ANLN promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression by upregulating PD-L1 via the ERK-MAPK pathway

Anillin (ANLN) is a highly conserved protein involved in cytokinesis and cytoskeletal remodeling. This study investigates the role of ANLN in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) progression and its impact on the tumor immune microenvironment, with a focus on the combination of ANLN silencing and anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy. Through <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> experiments, along with clinical specimen analysis, we discovered that silencing ANLN not only inhibits the malignant progression of HNSCC but also reduces the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase-mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK-MAPK) signaling pathway and decreases programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression. Integrating ANLN silencing with anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody treatment significantly enhances the activation of infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells, leading to marked tumor growth suppression. Our findings highlight the potential of ANLN as a therapeutic target in HNSCC, providing a foundation for developing innovative and effective combined treatment strategies.