Histology and immune impact in OSCC

This study investigated how tumour histopathological characteristics and immune cell phenotypes in the tumour microenvironment influence the prognosis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Thirty-one samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma were analysed using immunohistochemistry to assess tumour budding, perineural invasion, depth of invasion, tumour thickness, lymphovascular invasion, pattern of invasion, and tumour-stroma ratio. Anti-CD66b and anti-CD8 immunostaining were used to examine neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltration within the tumour core, invasive front, and overall tumour. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were employed to correlate these features with patient survival. High tumour budding was observed in lesions with perineural and lymphovascular invasion and was positively associated with tumour thickness. Dispersed tumours had the highest depth of invasion and thickness, while non-cohesive tumours exhibited more perineural invasion and greater CD66b+ cell infiltration at the invasive front. Increased CD66b+ counts, non-cohesive and dispersed patterns, were associated with shorter overall survival. A higher ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes was observed in patients who died. In conclusion, high tumour budding, perineural and lymphovascular invasion, and increased CD66b+ infiltration at the invasive front are linked to aggressive tumour behaviour and poor prognosis. These features may serve as important predictors of patient outcomes.