[B cells in head and neck oncology].

As immunotherapy is becoming increasingly important in the treatment of head and neck cancer, a fundamental understanding of the immunological relationships in the tumor microenvironment is required. The importance of tumor-infiltrating B cells (TIL-B) has been largely neglected so far. In the current literature, however, a significant influence of B cells on tumor growth is described, so that this cell population is now also perceived as a therapeutic target structure. Regulatory B cells (Breg) represent a subset of B cells with immunosuppressive properties. In addition to the secretion of IL-10, Breg can be defined by their ability to produce adenosine. Adenosine is known as an immunosuppressive messenger in the tumor microenvironment whose effect can be prevented by immunotherapeutic approaches. Understanding the tumor immunological relationships, including the different B‑cell functions, can help to effectively combine standard approaches including surgery or radiochemotherapy with immunotherapy. In the present article, recent findings on B cells and adenosine in head and neck cancer are described.