Hongzhi Quan1,2, Zhongyan Shan3,4, Ziyi Liu3,4, Sixuan Liu3,4, Liu Yang3,4, Xiaodan Fang3,4, Kun Li3,4, Baisheng Wang3,4, Zhiyuan Deng3,4, Yanjia Hu3,4, Zhigang Yao3,5, Junhui Huang3,5, Jianjun Yu6, Kun Xia7, Zhangui Tang3,4, Liangjuan Fang8,9. 1. Research Institution of Stomatology, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital and School of Stomatology, Central South University, 72 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China. hongzhi.quan@csu.edu.cn. 2. Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital and School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China. hongzhi.quan@csu.edu.cn. 3. Research Institution of Stomatology, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital and School of Stomatology, Central South University, 72 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China. 4. Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital and School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China. 5. Department of Oral Pathology, Xiangya Stomatological Hospital and School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China. 6. Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China. 7. Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, People's Republic of China. 8. Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China. fangliangjuan@163.com. 9. Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China. fangliangjuan@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in the immune remodeling of tumor microenvironments (TME) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains controversial. In this study, we pursued a comprehensive characterization of the repertoire of TILs and then analyzed its clinical significance and potential prognostic value. METHODS: Fresh tumor tissue samples and peripheral blood from 83 OSCC patients were collected to comprehensively characterize the phenotypes and frequencies of TILs by flow cytometry. Archived paraffin-embedded tissues derived from 159 OSCC patients were analyzed by immunohistochemistry to further assess the TIL repertoire. The clinical significance of TILs and their potential prognostic value were further analyzed. RESULTS: A series of unique features of TILs were observed. IL-17 was highly expressed in betel nut chewers, and CD20 was abundantly expressed in patients who did not drink alcohol; high expression of CD138, PD-L1, and Foxp3 was associated with poor prognosis. The Th17/Treg ratio was an independent prognostic factor for patient survival with greater predictive accuracy for overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest an antigen-driven immune response; however, the immune dysfunction within the microenvironment in OSCC and the Th17/Treg balance may play important roles in the modulation of antitumor immunity.
BACKGROUND: The role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in the immune remodeling of tumor microenvironments (TME) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains controversial. In this study, we pursued a comprehensive characterization of the repertoire of TILs and then analyzed its clinical significance and potential prognostic value. METHODS: Fresh tumor tissue samples and peripheral blood from 83 OSCCpatients were collected to comprehensively characterize the phenotypes and frequencies of TILs by flow cytometry. Archived paraffin-embedded tissues derived from 159 OSCCpatients were analyzed by immunohistochemistry to further assess the TIL repertoire. The clinical significance of TILs and their potential prognostic value were further analyzed. RESULTS: A series of unique features of TILs were observed. IL-17 was highly expressed in betel nut chewers, and CD20 was abundantly expressed in patients who did not drink alcohol; high expression of CD138, PD-L1, and Foxp3 was associated with poor prognosis. The Th17/Treg ratio was an independent prognostic factor for patient survival with greater predictive accuracy for overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest an antigen-driven immune response; however, the immune dysfunction within the microenvironment in OSCC and the Th17/Treg balance may play important roles in the modulation of antitumor immunity.
Authors: Giuseppe Troiano; Corrado Rubini; Lucrezia Togni; Vito Carlo Alberto Caponio; Khrystyna Zhurakivska; Andrea Santarelli; Nicola Cirillo; Lorenzo Lo Muzio; Marco Mascitti Journal: Cancer Med Date: 2020-10-13 Impact factor: 4.452