High level of CD10 expression is associated with poor overall survival in patients with head and neck cancer.

CD10 is a common zinc-dependent metalloid protease that is expressed in numerous tissues, including malignant cells. Genomic alterations of CD10 are frequently observed in haematopoietic and non-haematopoietic tumours. In the present study, we analysed the CD10 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and its association with tumour prognosis using bioinformatic analysis and explored the potential of a CD10-driven signalling pathway in a tumour-immune microenvironment. Briefly, data mining analysis showed strengthened CD10 expression in HNSCC patients. High CD10 expression was associated with unfavourable overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). In addition, the correlation between CD10 expression and interleukin (IL)-6/IL-8-mediated M1 macrophage activity could potentially explain the poor prognosis of HNSCC. Among 692 genes co-expressed with CD10 in HNSCC, Rap1 signalling pathway, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, protein digestion and absorption, proteoglycans in cancer, PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, focal adhesion and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction were the candidate signalling pathways driven by the CD10 gene. Further investigation of immune-associated signalling pathways regulated by CD10 may be beneficial to improve the prognosis of HNSCC patients by immunotherapy.