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CD38 Multi-Functionality in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Prognostic Implications, Immune Balance, and Immune
Zhuang Ding1, Yijia He1, Yong Fu1
1Central Laboratory of Stomatology, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Frontiers in Oncology
|July 2, 2021
Summary
CD38 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) correlates with advanced disease and poor prognosis. Targeting CD38 may offer new therapeutic strategies by modulating the tumor immune microenvironment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- CD38, a member of the ribosyl cyclase family, is expressed on hematological cells and implicated in immune suppression and tumor promotion.
- While CD38-targeting antibodies are approved for multiple myeloma, its role in solid tumors like oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of CD38 in OSCC.
- To analyze the spatial distribution and correlation of CD38 expression with the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) in OSCC and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 92 OSCC samples using immunohistochemistry (IHC) to assess CD38 distribution.
- Flow cytometry analysis of 53 preoperative peripheral blood samples from OSCC patients.
- Utilized TIMER and cBioPortal databases to examine CD38 levels and TME correlations in HNSCC.
Main Results:
- CD38 was detected in tumor cells (TCs), fibroblast-like cells (FLCs), and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).
- High CD38 expression in TCs and FLCs correlated with advanced TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor WPOI.
- Elevated CD38 in TILs (CD38 TILs) was linked to increased tumor cell proliferation (Ki-67), shorter overall survival, and disease-free survival, and was associated with altered immune cell populations and immune checkpoint molecule expression in HNSCC.
Conclusions:
- CD38 serves as a significant poor prognostic biomarker in OSCC.
- CD38 plays a crucial role in regulating the immune microenvironment and lymphocyte balance.
- The co-expression of CD38 with immune checkpoint molecules suggests potential for novel immune checkpoint therapies.
