van der Kamp Martine Froukje, Hiddingh Eric, de Vries Julius, van Dijk Boukje Annemarie Cornelia, Schuuring Ed, Slagter-Menkema Lorian, van der Vegt Bert, Halmos Gyorgy Bela
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands.
Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), Department of Research and Development, 3511 DT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Cancers (Basel). 2023 Jul 28;15(15):3834. doi: 10.3390/cancers15153834.
There is often a mismatch between the chronological and biological age of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. Treatment is based on chronological age, while biological age seems to be a better prognosticator for treatment toleration. This study investigated whether tumor characteristics are associated with chronological and biological age. The relation with survival was also assessed. Prospectively collected data from 164 newly diagnosed HNSCC patients enrolled in the OncoLifeS database were analyzed. Biological age was assessed by a multidomain geriatric assessment. Several immunological markers were tested by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray sections from the tumor. Disease-free survival (DFS), adjusted for chronological- and biological age, was assessed by univariable and bivariable analyses. In biologically old patients, a lower infiltration of CD163+ macrophages ( = 0.036) as well as CD4+ ( = 0.019) and CD8+ ( = 0.026) lymphocytes was found in the tumor microenvironment. Chronological older patients showed significantly lower PD-L1 combined positive scores ( = 0.030). Advanced tumor stage and perineural growth were related to a worse DFS. None of the immunological markers showed a significant association with DFS. Biological age might have a stronger influence on tumor microenvironment than chronological age. These findings should initiate clinical studies investigating the response to specific treatment regimens (e.g., immunotherapy) according to the biological age.
头颈部鳞状细胞癌（HNSCC）患者的实际年龄与生物学年龄常常不匹配。治疗是基于实际年龄，而生物学年龄似乎是治疗耐受性更好的预后指标。本研究调查了肿瘤特征是否与实际年龄和生物学年龄相关。还评估了其与生存率的关系。分析了前瞻性收集的来自OncoLifeS数据库中164例新诊断HNSCC患者的数据。通过多领域老年评估来评估生物学年龄。通过对肿瘤组织微阵列切片进行免疫组织化学检测几种免疫标志物。通过单变量和双变量分析评估经实际年龄和生物学年龄校正后的无病生存期（DFS）。在生物学年龄较大的患者中，在肿瘤微环境中发现CD163 +巨噬细胞（P = 0.036）以及CD4 +（P = 0.019）和CD8 +（P = 0.026）淋巴细胞的浸润较低。实际年龄较大的患者显示PD-L1联合阳性评分显著较低（P = 0.030）。肿瘤晚期和神经周围生长与较差的DFS相关。没有免疫标志物显示与DFS有显著关联。生物学年龄可能比实际年龄对肿瘤微环境有更强的影响。这些发现应启动临床研究，根据生物学年龄研究对特定治疗方案（如免疫疗法）的反应。
