Prognostic value of trafficking of regulatory T cells to tumors in head and neck cancer patients.

104 Background: The prognostic value of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unknown. We analyzed the prognostic effect of Tregs in HNSCC with immune activity scores, which reflect the activity status of the seven-step cancer-immunity cycle. Methods: We correlated the 23 immune activity scores and clinicopathologic features of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HNSCC using multivariate Cox regression analyses and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The processed data of immune activity scores were obtained from TIP online tool and the clinicopathologic data were downloaded from TCGA HNSCC database. Results: Immune activity scores of “trafficking of Tregs to tumors” was significantly associated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Low activity scores of “trafficking of Tregs to tumors” resulted in shorter OS and PFS. In multivariate analysis, low scores predicted poor OS (adjusted HR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.34-2.60 ; P < 0.001) and were related with unfavorable PFS (adjusted HR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.45-2.86 ; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Immune activity scores of “trafficking of Tregs to tumors” was independent significant prognostic factor in HNSCC. Therefore, assessment of immune activity scores may be useful tools for predicting prognosis in these patients.