Divergent immuno-landscapes: comparing the tumor microenvironment of Indian and Western HNSCC patients (opens in new tab)

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a highly dynamic and heterogeneous cancer where the tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune landscape differ across populations. Western groups often show an “immune-hot” profile with infiltration by various immune cells, including cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, helper CD4+ T cells, and regulatory T cells. In contrast, Indian groups frequently display an inflammation-rich yet immunosuppressive microenvironment dominated by myeloid cells. The Asian pop...