Identification of Five Immune Subtypes in Tongue Cancer for Personalized Therapy

Recent research has unveiled five distinct immunotypes in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC), a prevalent form of oral cancer. This breakthrough, led by Professor Miyuki Azuma from the Institute of Science Tokyo, utilized advanced immune profiling techniques, including multiplex immunofluorescence and spatial tissue analysis, to map the immune landscape within tumors.

The study identified that not all TSCC tumors respond equally to immunotherapy, primarily due to their immune microenvironment. The five immunotypes include:

1. Immunoactive Type I: Characterized by active immune cells capable of responding well to current immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, this type is rare, comprising only a small percentage of cases.
2. Immunosuppressed Type III: Exhibits active suppression of immune responses, making immunotherapy less effective.
3. Immunoisolating Type IV: Contains immune cells that are unable to effectively engage with cancer cells, leading to immune evasion.
4. Immunodepleted or 'immune desert' Type V: Shows minimal immune cell infiltration, indicating a non-inflamed tumor microenvironment.

Most TSCC cases (approximately 70%) fall into types III–V, which explains the limited success of current immunotherapies, such as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, in treating this cancer. Importantly, traditional cancer staging systems do not effectively predict these immune profiles, emphasizing the need for immune-based diagnostics.

The findings suggest that personalized treatment strategies could significantly improve outcomes. Patients with immunoactive tumors may benefit from ICIs alone, while those with immunosuppressive or isolated microenvironments might require combination therapies or novel approaches to overcome immune resistance. This classification system paves the way for more targeted and effective intervention, moving toward precision oncology for TSCC.

Overall, this research marks a critical step forward in tailoring immunotherapy for tongue cancer, potentially leading to higher response rates and better patient prognoses.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-immune-tongue-cancer-personalized-treatment.html