Increased levels of immune inhibitory CD34+ progenitor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with node positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and the ability of these CD34+ cells to differentiate into immune stimulatory dendritic cells.
OBJECTIVE
This study determined whether mobilization of immune inhibitory CD34+ cells by head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) is most prominent in patients who are node positive and whether these CD34+ cells could differentiate into immune stimulatory dendritic cells.


METHODS
Peripheral blood from patients with head and neck cancer was used to measure the frequency of CD34+ cells and their capacity to differentiate into immune stimulatory dendritic cells.


RESULTS
This study demonstrated that increased CD34+ cell levels were most prominent in patients who were node positive and patients with recurrent disease. These CD34+ cells differentiated into dendritic cells that were able to present tetanus toxoid to autologous T-cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Immune suppressive CD34+ cells that are prominent in patients with HNSCC who are node positive are able to develop into immune stimulatory dendritic cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Differentiation of tumor-mobilized CD34+ cells into dendritic cells may be an immunotherapeutic approach to stimulate antitumor reactivity.
Lathers
D M
DM
Department of Research Services, Hines VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois 60141, USA.
Achille
N
N
Kolesiak
K
K
Hulett
K
K
Sparano
A
A
Petruzzelli
G J
GJ
Young
M R
MR
D017951:Antigen Presentation; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor