Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41776455›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2026

IL-23 as a potential mediator of immune evasion and therapeutic target in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Hongrong Wu, Dong Yuejiao, Liangli Hong, Jiesheng Qin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Hongrong WuDepartment of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 57 Changping Rd, Shantou, Guangdong province, 515041, China.
Dong YuejiaoDepartment of Pathology, Tengchong People's Hospital, Tengchong, Yunnan, China.
Liangli HongDepartment of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 57 Changping Rd, Shantou, Guangdong province, 515041, China. hong_liangli@163.com.
Jiesheng QinDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China. stqinjiesheng@163.com.

Funding

Shantou Science and Technology Plan Project 210726106491716
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLaryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a prevalent and aggressive malignancy. Interleukin-23 (IL-23) and its receptor (IL-23R) have been identified as key modulators of the immune response in various cancers, but their role in LSCC remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the expression of IL-23, IL-23R, and FoxP3 + regulatory T cells (Tregs) in LSCC tissues and explore their potential involvement in immune modulation and tumor progression.

methodsImmunohistochemical staining was performed on 115 LSCC tissue samples to assess the expression of IL-23, IL-23R, and FoxP3 + Tregs. The relationship between IL-23 expression and immune cell infiltration, including CD8 + T cells and Tregs, was analyzed, and survival analysis was conducted. Public datasets (TCGA-HNSC, GSE103322) were utilized for bioinformatic validation.

resultsIL-23 was predominantly expressed in tumor cells and stromal immune cells within the TME, while IL-23R was primarily located on immune cells, especially in the invasive margin. IL-23 expression was positively correlated with Treg infiltration and negatively associated with CD8 + T cell density. However, no significant correlation was found between IL-23 expression and overall survival, potentially due to the study’s sample size limitations. Bioinformatic analysis of the TCGA-HNSC cohort confirmed elevated IL23A expression in tumors and revealed its positive correlation with immune infiltration scores, Treg signatures, and enrichment in immune-related pathways.

conclusionIL-23, through its interaction with IL-23R and Tregs, contributes to immune evasion in LSCC. Targeting the IL-23/IL-23R signaling axis may offer a novel therapeutic approach to enhance anti-tumor immunity in LSCC. Larger cohort studies are needed to validate these findings and assess IL-23’s clinical utility as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Squamous CellInterleukin-23Laryngeal NeoplasmsSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckAgedCD8-Positive T-LymphocytesFemaleForkhead Transcription FactorsHumansLymphocytes, Tumor-InfiltratingMaleMiddle AgedReceptors, InterleukinT-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryTumor MicroenvironmentForkhead Transcription FactorsFOXP3 protein, humanIL23R protein, humanInterleukin-23Receptors, InterleukinFoxP3 + TregsIL-23immune infiltrationLSCCTumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID41776455
PMCPMC13067669

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.