Cellular morphometry of the neoplastic microenvironment and its association with the immunoexpression of
Caio Rodrigues Maia1, Maria Sara Maia de Queiroz2, Carlos Augusto Galvão Barboza2
1Student of the Postgraduate Program in Dental Sciences at Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil.
Insights
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) deeper invasion correlates with altered cell morphology and reduced interleukin-4 (IL-4) expression. This suggests a potential link between cellular changes and the loss of differentiated cell phenotype in oral cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oral pathology
- Oncology
- Cell biology
Background:
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is a prevalent oral malignancy.
- Understanding cellular and molecular changes in Lower Lip SCC (LLSCC) and Oral Tongue SCC (OTSCC) is crucial for prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a cellular morphometric analysis of LLSCC and OTSCC.
- To compare the immunoexpression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) between LLSCC and OTSCC.
- To investigate the relationship between cellular morphology, IL-4 expression, and neoplastic invasion depth.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 60 SCC cases (30 LLSCC, 30 OTSCC).
- Cellular morphometry of 16 malignant keratinocytes per case.
- IL-4 immunoexpression analysis in parenchyma and stroma (superficial and deep fields) using image analysis software.
- Statistical analysis using ANOVA and Spearman's correlation.
Main Results:
- Total IL-4 immunoexpression was significantly higher in LLSCC compared to OTSCC (p: 0.007).
- Positive correlation observed between malignant keratinocyte perimeter/area and invasion depth (p: 0.009, p: 0.038).
- Negative correlation found between IL-4 expression and nuclear/cellular morphology parameters with invasion depth (p: 0.007, p: 0.008).
Conclusions:
- Deeper invasive SCC exhibits more significant nuclear and cellular morphological alterations.
- Reduced IL-4 expression in deeper invasive SCC may indicate a loss of differentiated cell phenotype.
- Morphometric and IL-4 immunoexpression analyses provide insights into SCC progression.
Abstract:
The objective of this research is to perform a cellular morphometric analysis, identify nuclear malignant keratinocyte irregularities, compare the immunoexpression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and investigate neoplastic invasion depth in Lower Lip Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LLSCC) and Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OTSCC) cases. A total of 60 cases were analyzed (30 on the lower lip and 30 on the oral tongue). Concerning the cellular morphometry analysis, 16 malignant keratinocytes from each case were analyzed. IL-4 immunoexpression was analyzed in the parenchyma and stroma of the investigated lesions, in both deep and superficial fields, employing an image analysis software. ANOVA and Spearman's correlation statistical tests were applied. Total IL-4 immunoexpression was higher in LLSCC cases in all analyzed fields (p: 0.007); Positive correlation between the cellular perimeter of malignant keratinocytes in the superficial fields and lesion invasion depth was observed (p: 0.009), as well as between the total cellular area and neoplastic invasion depth (p: 0.038). A negative correlation, on the other hand, was observed between superficial lesion parenchyma IL-4 immunoexpression and nuclear perimeter in superficial fields (p: 0.007), as well as between total deep stroma IL-4 immunoexpression and neoplastic invasion depth (p: 0.008). These findings suggest that SCC displaying greater neoplastic invasion depth exhibit greater nuclear and cellular morphology alterations, albeit reducing IL-4 expression, potentially due to loss of the differentiated cell phenotype.
