Single cell analysis unveils B cell-dominated immune subtypes in HNSCC for enhanced prognostic and therapeutic stratification

doi:10.1038/s41368-024-00292-1

International Journal of Oral Science ›› 2024, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (0) : 29. DOI: 10.1038/s41368-024-00292-1

Kang Li¹, Caihua Zhang¹, Ruoxing Zhou¹, Maosheng Cheng¹, Rongsong Ling², Gan Xiong³, Jieyi Ma¹, Yan Zhu¹, Shuang Chen¹, Jie Chen³, Demeng Chen¹, Liang Peng⁴

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Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is characterized by high recurrence or distant metastases rate and the prognosis is challenging. There is mounting evidence that tumor-infiltrating B cells (TIL-Bs) have a crucial, synergistic role in tumor control. However, little is known about the role TIL-Bs play in immune microenvironment and the way TIL-Bs affect the outcome of immune checkpoint blockade. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, the study identified distinct gene expression patterns in TIL-Bs. HNSCC samples were categorized into TIL-Bs inhibition and TIL-Bs activation groups using unsupervised clustering. This classification was further validated with TCGA HNSCC data, correlating with patient prognosis, immune cell infiltration, and response to immunotherapy. We found that the B cells activation group exhibited a better prognosis, higher immune cell infiltration, and distinct immune checkpoint levels, including elevated PD-L1. A prognostic model was also developed and validated, highlighting four genes as potential biomarkers for predicting survival outcomes in HNSCC patients. Overall, this study provides a foundational approach for B cells-based tumor classification in HNSCC, offering insights into targeted treatment and immunotherapy strategies.

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Kang Li, Caihua Zhang, Ruoxing Zhou, Maosheng Cheng, Rongsong Ling, Gan Xiong, Jieyi Ma, Yan Zhu, Shuang Chen, Jie Chen, Demeng Chen, …Liang Peng. Single cell analysis unveils B cell-dominated immune subtypes in HNSCC for enhanced prognostic and therapeutic stratification. International Journal of Oral Science, 2024, 16(0): 29 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41368-024-00292-1

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