Nature: New research suggests that in-tumor B cells may be an important aspect of developing cancer immunotherapy

November 22, 2020 /--- Therapies have changed the treatment of several types of cancer over the past decade.
, however, they focus on reactivation of cytotoxic T cells in the immune system, allowing them to find and kill tumor cells.
study, researchers from Emory University in the United States reported detailed observations of B cells present inside tumors.
addition to T cells, B cells may provide an opportunity to develop new treatments for certain cancers as another important immune cell in the adaptive immune system.
results were published online November 18, 2020 in the journal Nature under the title "Defining HPV-specific B cell responses with patients with head and neck cancer."
images from Nature, 2020, doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2931-3. "In-tumor B cells are an increasingly interesting area because several studies have shown that they are associated with better prognosis and longer lifetimes," said Dr. Andreas Wieland, lead author of the
paper and a lecturer at the Rafi Ahmed Laboratory at Emory University School of Medicine.
, no one really knows what these B cells are specific to.
" Wieland, Ahmed, and their colleagues decided to focus on hpicular influenza virus (HPV)-positive head and neck cancer because the virus provides a determined set of tumor-related antigens that make it easier to study tumor-specific B cells in patients.
Resident co-author Dr. Nabil Saba, director of the Head and Neck Medicine Oncology Program at Emory University's Winchup Cancer Institute, said, "Our results open the door to the use of this type of cancer-specific immune response in future immunotherapy applications.
has an effect not only on HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, but also on the broader field of immuno-oncology.
" the researchers obtained samples of head and neck tumors removed from 43 patients.
in HPV-positive head and neck tumors, they found that HPV protein-specific B-cells are infused in tumors, and a subset of these B-cells is actively secreting HPV-specific antibodies.
these tumors, they can observe structures similar to those of the birth center, which are similar to those in the lymph nodes used to "train" B cells during the immune response.
in the birth center, the antibody gene of B cells mutates (i.e., high-frequency mutations in solibacy cells) and is then screened to increase the binding affinity with antigens.
the researchers observed that the antibody genes carried by HPV-specific in-tumor B cells showed a large number of mutations.
high-frequency mutations in soytic cells are comparable to antibodies observed in patients with chronic HIV infections," said Wieland, a researcher at the U.S. Hospital for Human Development.
suggests that the body fluid immune response to these tumor-related viral antigens lasts longer.
" in two previous studies on HPV-positive head and neck cancer, systemic antibody responses to HPV proteins were associated with increased survival and reduced risk of recurrence.
, Wieland said, it's unclear exactly what role HPV-specific in-tumor B cells play in the body's fight against cancer.
said, "HPV-specific antibodies may not have direct anti-tumor effects."
HPV protein remains in tumor cells, so it should be shielded from these cells to avoid direct involvement of antibodies.
but anti-HPV antibodies may help T cells react.
" Wieland said the role of anti-HPV protein antibodies should be further evaluated, and HPV-specific antibodies may be used as a treatment for HPV-positive head and neck cancer, after all, the incidence of HPV-positive head and neck cancer has been rising in recent years.
can also be studied for HPV-specific antibodies in other HPV-related tumor types.
, "B cells and cells that secrete antibodies (i.e. plasma cells converted from B cells) are also present in other cancers," he said.
challenge for other types ---, especially non-viral ---, will be to identify tumor-related antigens targeted by B cells in the tumor.
" (Bioon.com) Reference: 1. Andreas Wieland et al. Defining HPV-specific B cell responses in patients with head and neck cancer. Nature, 2020, doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2931-3.2.Another side to cancer immunotherapy? Scientists investigation intratumoral B cells