β-glucan therapy converts the inhibition of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in oral cancer patients

OBJECTIVES The myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) frequently have a high expansion in cancer patients. This research explored whether administration of β-glucan could increase anti-tumor immunity in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study evaluated the MDSC level of circulating blood as CD33+ /CD11b+ /HLA-DR-/low by flow cytometry in 30 healthy donors (HDs, group I), in 48 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients before and after 14-day preoperative administration of β-glucan (group II), and in 52 OSCC patients without taking β-glucan (group III). RESULTS A significantly higher mean MDSC level was observed in 100 OSCC patients than in 30 HDs (p