Protumor role of estrogen receptor expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Objective: Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the protumor role of estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated signaling in multiple cancer types, which is distinct from this signaling in sex steroid-dependent organs. However, its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear.

Study Design: We assessed the expression of ERα and ERβ in human OSCC tissues by immunohistochemistry and evaluated the expression of both receptors in OSCC cell lines by immunoblotting and flow cytometry.

Enhanced expression of PD-L1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma-derived CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells and its contribution to immunosuppressive activity.

Cancer is often associated with dysregulation of both the humoral and cellular immune response, which in some instances is believed to result from changes in immune cell populations. For example, immunosuppressive CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) myeloid-derived suppressor cells have been shown to proliferate in the tumor microenvironment and surrounding tissues, highlighting the relationship between tumor growth and impairment of the immune response. However, the role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in cancer progression has not been fully characterized because these cells are heterogeneous with properties influenced by the type and location of the tumor.