Macrophage Profiling in Head and Neck Cancer to Improve Patient Prognosis and Assessment of Cancer Cell–Macrophage Interactions Using Three-Dimensional Coculture Models

Tumor-associated macrophages are key components of the tumor microenvironment and play important roles in progression head neck cancer, leading to development effective strategies targeting immune cells tumors. Our study demonstrated prognostic potential a new scoring system (Macroscore) based on combination ratio sum high low densities M1 (CD80+) M2 (CD163+) series cancer patients, including training population (n = 54) validation 19). Interestingly, Macroscore outperformed TNM criteria p16 status, showing significant association with poor patient prognosis, predictive value for overall survival. Additionally, 3D coculture spheroids were established analyze crosstalk between monocytes/macrophages. data revealed that can induce monocyte differentiation into protumoral macrophages, creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment. This also induced production cytokines, such as IL10 IL8, known promote polarization. Finally, we validated ability macrophage subpopulations apoptosis (M1) or support proliferation (M2) cells. Overall, our research highlights valuable biomarker enhance clinical management patients underscores relevance spheroid model gaining better understanding mechanisms underlying cell–macrophage interactions.