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Triggering of Toll-like Receptor 4 Expressed on Human Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Promotes Tumor Development and Protects the Tumor from Immune Attack

¹ University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Departments of ² Otolaryngology and ³ Clinical Immunology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland

Requests for reprints: Theresa L. Whiteside, Research Pavilion at the Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, 5117 Centre Avenue, Suite 1.27, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-1863. Phone: 412-624-0096; Fax: 412-624-0264; E-mail: whitesidetl{at}upmc.edu.

Key Words: TLR4 on tumor cells • HNSCC • immune suppression • LPS • NF-B

Toll-like receptors (TLR) expressed on inflammatory cells play a key role in host defense against pathogens, benefiting the host. TLR are also expressed on tumor cells. To evaluate the role of TLR in tumor cells, we investigated TLR4 signaling effects on human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Tumor tissues were obtained from 27 patients with laryngeal and 12 with oral cavity cancers. Normal mucosa was obtained from 10 patients with nonneoplastic disorders. Smears for bacteria were taken from all patients during surgery. TLR4 expression in tumors and HNSCC cell lines (PCI-1, PCI-13, and PCI-30) was detected by reverse transcription-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Cell growth, apoptosis, nuclear factor-B (NF-B) translocation, and MyD88 and IRAK-4 expression, as well as Akt phosphorylation were measured following tumor cell exposure to the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Tumor cell sensitivity to NK-92–mediated lysis was evaluated in 4-hour ⁵¹Cr-release assays. Cytokine levels in HNSCC supernatants were measured in Luminex-based assays. TLR4 was expressed in all tumors, HNSCC cell lines, and normal mucosa. The TLR4 expression intensity correlated with tumor grade. LPS binding to TLR4 on tumor cells enhanced proliferation, activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway, up-regulated IRAK-4 expression, induced nuclear NF-B translocation, and increased production (P < 0.05) of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, vascular endothelial growth factor, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor. TLR4 triggering protected tumor cells from lysis mediated by NK-92 cells. TLR4 ligation on tumor cells supports HNSCC progression. [Cancer Res 2009;69(7):3105–13]