NON-TUMOR CELLS ROLE IN THE TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT (TME) OF HEAD AND NECK CANCER (HNC)

OBJECTIVE: Although it is known that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of a heterogeneous group of cells, which includes tumor cells, as well as non-tumor cells, such as stromal cells associated with the tumor and some leukocytes types, the objective of this systematic review was to provide updated information on the participation of non-tumor cells present in the TME on tumor progression of head and neck cancers. METHODS: A bibliographic review was carried out, through an online search between May and October 2020, of scientific articles published in Portuguese and English between 2002 and 2020 in the public health databases: LILACS, SCIELO, PubMed, and Google Scholar, following the question guiding: what is the role of non-tumor cells present in the TME in the progression of head and neck cancer?, and using the descriptors: neoplasia; tumor microenvironment; head and neck cancer; infiltrating tumor cells; stromal cells; fibroblast; leukocytes; T lymphocytes; macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells. RESULTS: Initially 158 articles were selected, of which 60 were excluded because they were duplicated, 58 because they did not address the theme of the study, and 18 because they did not answer the guiding question. Thus, 22 studies were used in this review. CONCLUSION: TME is a specific tumor site where there is an intense interaction between molecules and cells and, in general, the non-tumor cells present in the TME, both fibroblasts, a stromal cell, and leukocytes act favoring the progression of head and neck cancer.