Immune checkpoint analysis in lip cancer.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Pathology

Background:

• Lip squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a significant head and neck cancer.
• Prognostic markers for LSCC, especially related to the tumor microenvironment, require further investigation.
• Immune checkpoint proteins PD-L1 and PD-1 are implicated in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prognostic value of PD-L1, PD-1, CD4, CD8, and FOXP3 in LSCC.
• To determine the correlation of these markers with nodal metastasis in LSCC.
• To explore the potential of PD-L1 and PD-1 as therapeutic targets in LSCC.

Main Methods:

• Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze PD-L1, PD-1, CD4, CD8, and FOXP3 expression in 58 LSCC tumor specimens.
• Patients were stratified into groups with (N+) and without (N-) nodal metastasis.
• Clinicopathological parameters were matched between N+ and N- groups.

Main Results:

• PD-L1 expression was observed in 56.1% of LSCC cases, with a non-significant tendency towards higher expression in N+ patients.
• No significant correlation was found between the analyzed markers (PD-L1, PD-1, CD4, CD8, FOXP3) and the risk of nodal disease.
• None of the investigated markers demonstrated significant prognostic value in LSCC.

Conclusions:

• PD-L1 and PD-1 expression in LSCC, while present, did not serve as significant prognostic indicators for nodal metastasis.
• Despite lacking prognostic value in this cohort, PD-L1 and PD-1 represent potential therapeutic targets for checkpoint inhibitor therapy in LSCC.
• Further analysis of PD-L1 and PD-1 expression is recommended for advanced and metastasized LSCC cases.