The tumor cell killing capacity of head and neck cancer patient-derived neutrophils depends on tumor stage, gender and the antibody isotype

Abstract

Neutrophils play a crucial role in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and significantly influence treatment outcomes. Phenotypic and functional properties of neutrophils adapt to the TME with distinct subsets modulating disease progression and therapeutic interventions. Here, we evaluated phenotypic and functional differences of neutrophils derived from HNSCC patients and healthy donors. We observed significant phenotypic differences between neutrophils from healthy donors and HNSCC patient-derived neutrophils. Gender and tumor stage influenced neutrophil phenotypes and their ability to lyse tumor cells through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Patients with advanced HNSCC and males may benefit less from neutrophil-centered immunotherapy. An engineered IgA2 antibody specific for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) demonstrated superior efficacy in activating neutrophils for ADCC compared to Panitumumab using healthy and patient-derived neutrophils, underscoring the potential of the IgA isotype as a therapeutic alternative. The distinct behavior and antibody-isotype dependent ADCC competence of CD177+/- neutrophils of healthy but not HNSCC donors warrants further exploration. Our study emphasizes the importance of personalized immunotherapy treatments that consider the characteristics of neutrophils, patient demographics, and the type of antibody to improve ADCC and ultimately enhance treatment outcomes for HNSCC.