Prognostic Potential of Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells in Resectable Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Main Authors: Ana Caruntu, Liliana Moraru, Mihai Lupu, Florina Vasilescu, Marius Dumitrescu, Mirela Cioplea, Cristiana Popp, Alexandra Dragusin, Constantin Caruntu, Sabina Zurac
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Cancers
• Subjects: head and neck cancer; oral squamous cell carcinoma; immunohistochemistry; tumor-infiltrating immune cells; lymphocytes; prognostic
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/9/2268
• ISSN: 2072-6694

(1) <i>Background</i>: The immune microenvironment plays an important role in carcinogenesis and has prognostic potential in many types of cancer. In this study we assess the prognostic character of tumor-infiltrating immune cells CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD56⁺ in resectable oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC); (2) <i>Methods</i>: We have evaluated the densities of CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD56⁺ in two distinct compartments, intratumor and invasion front, in 90 patients with OSCC; (3) <i>Results</i>: Significant differences were found between the tumor compartments for the CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ lymphocytes. An improved outcome (OS) was seen in patients with high densities of intratumor CD8⁺ lymphocytes (<i>p</i> = 0.0086), CD8⁺ lymphocytes at the front of invasion (<i>p</i> = 0.0011) and for intratumor CD56⁺ cells (<i>p</i> = 0.0016). Multivariate analysis confirmed the independent prognostic role of CD8⁺ at the front of invasion (OR = 3.75, CI95% 1.17–12.35, <i>p</i> = 0.026) and for intratumor CD56⁺ cells (OR = 3.669, CI95% 1.09–15.37, <i>p</i> = 0.035); (4) <i>Conclusions</i>: Tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ lymphocytes at the front of invasion and CD56⁺ in the intratumor compartment display predictive traits in OSCC. A reach immune infiltration with these types of cells is associated with an improved patient outcome.