Co‐inhibitory immune checkpoints in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

• Published in: Oral diseases 2018-03, Vol.24 (1-2), p.120-123
• Main Authors: Deng, W‐W, Wu, L, Sun, Z‐J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antigens, CD - metabolism; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological - therapeutic use; B7 Antigens - metabolism; B7-H1 Antigen - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - immunology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; CTLA-4 Antigen - metabolism; CTLA‐4; Dentistry; Head & neck cancer; Head and Neck Neoplasms - drug therapy; Head and Neck Neoplasms - genetics; Head and Neck Neoplasms - immunology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - metabolism; head neck squamous cell carcinoma; Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2 - metabolism; Humans; Immune checkpoint; Immunosurveillance; Immunotherapy; Lymphocytes T; PD‐1; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor - metabolism; Squamous cell carcinoma; Tumor cells; V-Set Domain-Containing T-Cell Activation Inhibitor 1 - metabolism
• ISSN: 1354-523X; 1601-0825
• DOI: 10.1111/odi.12746

The upregulation of co‐inhibitory immune checkpoints hampers the immune response toward tumor cells and facilitates the tumor cells ability to evade immunosurveillance. Specific inhibitory immune checkpoint delivers inhibitory signals to T cells using multiple mechanisms. More in‐depth understanding of the co‐inhibitory immune checkpoints could be exploited for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treatment. In this review, we summarize the expression and the mechanism of partial co‐inhibitory immune checkpoint signals and discuss targeting co‐inhibitory immune checkpoints as an immunotherapeutic target for cancer therapy. This review may provide a better understanding of the co‐inhibitory immune checkpoints and could promote applications of immunotherapy.