Tumour–associated inflammation in patients with advanced and relapsing hypopharyngeal carcinoma

Therapy with immune checkpoint blockade became a first-line-therapy in relapsing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) [1]. Neutrophils are a potential target in immunotherapy. For CD68 positive Macrophages expressing Factor 10 (FX) a prognostic role in tumorbiology is discussed [2]. For these reasons we aimed at better describing the tumour microenvironment (TME) with a focus on neutrophilic infiltration in the framework of either active acute or chronic inflammation and the prognostic role of macrophages in HPSCC (hypopharyngeal SCC) patients.