Sex of Patient influences on the Inflammatory Microenvironment in Head and Neck Cancer
Claudia Antwi-Boasiako,聽MSc Otolaryngology (Thesis) 鈥� Year 1, 六合彩开奖结果
Dr Sabrina Wurzba (Supervisor)
Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the 6th most common cancer globally. Despite growing interest in the impact of sex-specific factors on cancer biology, there is limited understanding of whether the inflammatory microenvironment exhibits significant variations based on the sex of the patients with HNC.
Objectives: The main aim of this project is to determine if the inflammatory microenvironment exhibits significant variations based on sex in patients with HNC. The findings may have implications for disease progression, treatment response, and patient outcomes. Hypothesis: It is hypothesized that sex-based variations may influence the composition and
function of the inflammatory microenvironment in HNC. Methodology: This is a retrospective study on patients diagnosed with HNC. Demographic data, family history of cancer, clinical and pathological characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, treatment, disease recurrence, primary metastasis, comorbidities and survival will be collected. Tumor tissue specimens and adjacent normal tissue samples will be collected from patients who have undergone surgical resection. Standard IHC techniques will be employed to assess the presence and distribution of TME cell populations (e.g., T cells, B cells, macrophages, neutrophils). Statistical analyses will include Fisher's exact test, multiple logistic regression and correlation
analysis as required. Survival will be determined using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model with likelihood ratio statistics will be used to identify variables independently associated with survival. A P<0.05 will be considered statistically significant.
Expected results: This research project anticipates characterized potential sex-based differences in the inflammatory microenvironment of HNC. The results may shed light on the underlying mechanisms that drive these variations and their clinical implications.
Significance: Understanding sex-specific differences in the HNC microenvironment is crucial for advancing precision medicine approaches and tailoring treatment strategies to individual patients. It may lead to the discovery of potential markers that can be used to optimize the existing treatments, ultimately improving the overall management and outcomes of HNC patients with aggressive disease聽