Immunité et cancers des voies aéro-digestives supérieures 1^re partie: Réponses immunitaires et échappement tumoral

Head and neck cancers are a major public health problem because of their high frequency. They represent the third most frequent cancers in France among the male population. Although our knowledge about their development has improved, the prognosis of these cancers still remains poor. Indeed, the survival rate of the patients does not exceed 20% at 10 years, despite current treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on the tumor environment in order to understand the steps of cancer formation and its extension better, as well as the relationships with the immune system of the host. The identification of novel biomarkers, witnesses of the cancer process, but also of a possible anti-tumor immune response, may therefore constitute important elements for the diagnosis and prognosis, as well as therapeutic targets. This literature review aims at describing the immune aspects of head and neck cancers.