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Immunohistologic study of mononuclear cell infiltrates in oral squamous cell carcinomas
Insights
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, particularly T cells, were analyzed in oral cancer. Higher Leu-2a+ cell infiltration correlated with less advanced tumors, while an increased Leu-3a3b/Leu-2a ratio indicated more aggressive oral cancer.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- The tumor microenvironment, particularly immune cell infiltration, plays a critical role in cancer progression.
- Understanding the specific roles of different lymphocyte subpopulations in oral cancer is crucial for prognostic assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the intensity and distribution of various immune cell infiltrates, focusing on T cell subsets, in oral cancer tissues.
- To correlate the infiltration patterns of lymphocyte subpopulations with clinicopathologic features of oral tumors.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining was employed to evaluate mononuclear cell infiltrates in 50 oral cancer tissue samples.
- Lymphocyte subpopulations, including T cells (Leu-4+, Leu-3a3b+, Leu-2a+) and B cells (Leu-14+), were quantified and graded.
- The ratio of Leu-3a3b+ to Leu-2a+ cells was analyzed in relation to tumor stage, metastasis, and invasion patterns.
Main Results:
- T cells constituted the majority of infiltrated lymphocytes, with Leu-3a3b+ cells infiltrating 44 cases and Leu-2a+ cells in nearly half.
- B cells and NK cells showed minimal infiltration. Leu-4+ and Leu-2a+ cell infiltration intensity decreased with advancing T stage and diffuse invasion.
- Lower Leu-2a+ cell infiltration was observed in metastatic lymph nodes (p < 0.001). The Leu-3a3b/Leu-2a ratio was significantly higher in advanced tumors, metastasized cases, and diffuse invasion types.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights distinct infiltration patterns of T cell subsets in oral cancer.
- A higher Leu-3a3b/Leu-2a ratio is associated with more aggressive oral cancer phenotypes, suggesting its potential as a prognostic biomarker.
Abstract:
Intensity of mononuclear cell infiltrates in 50 oral cancer tissues was evaluated by immunohistochemical stainings. The intensity of the infiltrates was graded into four degrees from marked ( ) to absent (-); and the degree of each infiltrated lymphocyte subpopulation including Leu-3a3b/Leu-2a ratio was matched against clinical and histopathologic features. The vast majority of the infiltrated lymphocytes had antigens which were reactive with anti-T cell antibodies. In T cell subsets, Leu-3a3b+ cells infiltrated clearly (grade ++ or ) in 44 cases, and infiltration greater than grade ++ of Leu-2a+ cells was found in nearly half of the cases (26 of 50). In contrast, B cells (Leu-14+ cells) were obviously detectable in only a few cases, and moderate or marked infiltration of the natural killer (NK) population (Leu-11b+ cells) was not observed. Regarding correlation of T cell infiltrates with clinicopathologic features of the tumors, the degrees of Leu-4+ cell and Leu-2a+ cell infiltration became weak with advancing T stage. Leu-2a+ cells also infiltrated weakly into diffusely invading tumors. Out of 28 cases with no metastasis, 22 cases (78.6%) showed grade ++ approximately of Leu-2a+ cells, and only 4 (18.2%) of 22 cases with lymph node metastasis were clearly positive for Leu-2a+ cells (p less than 0.001). However, Leu-3a3b+ cell infiltration was only slightly related to T stage, metastasis, and to mode of invasion. Therefore, the Leu-3a3b/Leu-2a ratio increased significantly in advanced (T3 + T4) tumors, metastasized cases, or diffuse invasion type.