Dendritic cell subpopulations in nasopharyngeal cancer.

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and EBV antigen may be utilized for therapeutic purposes, including targeting of dendritic cells (DCs). Although DCs may be present in NPC, the information is limited and not up-to-date with current knowledge on DC subsets. In the present study, biopsies from untreated NPC were obtained and subjected to multicolor flow-cytometry focusing on DC subtype markers: CD123 for plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs); and CD1c and CD141 for myeloid DCs (mDCs). Furthermore, subset-specific expression of the C-lectin receptor (CLR) CD207 (also termed langerin) was assessed. pDCs and mDCs were detected in the NPC lesions, contributing to a frequency mean average of 0.78% of CD45 leukocytes . Different subpopulations, previously not described in NPC, were observed, including: CD123 pDCs; CD1c mDCs; CD141 mDCs; and CD1cCD141 mDCs. A high frequency of CD1c mDCs expressing CD207 was observed, compared with other subsets. In conclusion, different DC subsets are present in NPC lesions. The CLR CD207, a selective endocytic marker on CD1c mDCs, may be targeted for therapeutic purposes to facilitate cross-presentation of antigens and aid cell-mediated antitumor effects.