Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) in OSCC Patients

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has the highest annual increase in the rate of death among the top 10 leading cancers in Taiwan. This research aimed to explore whether increased anti-tumor immunity for OSCCs reduces the recurrence rate or improves survival. We first identified CD33+/CD11b+/HLA-DR-/low/CD14+/- as myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) surface markers by using flow cytometry to compare the MDSC frequency of OSCCs with blood samples from healthy donors (HDs). We then re-confirmed the suppression of T cell proliferation and function achieved by co-culturing with OSCC-educated MDSCs. We subsequently explore whether using particulate β-glucan as a food-grade supplement promotes the human immune system via subversion of immune modulatory MDSCs. Lastly, we correlated clinicopathological parameters with MDSCs and β-glucan administration to examine anti-tumor immunity, and to predict the therapeutic effect and prognosis in OSCC patients..