TREM2-Expressing Multinucleated Giant Macrophages Are a Biomarker of Good Prognosis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cancer Discov. 2024 Dec 2;14(12):2352-2366. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-24-0018.

Abstract

Novel individual biomarkers are needed to guide therapeutic decisions for patients with head and neck cancer. We report for the first time, granulomas of TREM2-expressing multinucleated giant macrophages in keratin-rich tumor niches, as a biomarker of favorable prognosis and developed a deep-learning model to automate its quantification on routinely stained pathological slides.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor* / metabolism
  • Giant Cells / metabolism
  • Giant Cells / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Macrophages* / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins* / metabolism
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Immunologic* / genetics
  • Receptors, Immunologic* / metabolism
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck* / genetics
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck* / metabolism
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck* / pathology

Substances

  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • TREM2 protein, human