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. 2008 Sep 2:8:25.
doi: 10.1186/1472-6831-8-25.

Cellular profile of the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate in squamous cells carcinoma of oral mucosa: Correlation with the expression of Ki67 and histologic grading

Fabricio L D Vieira  1 , Beatriz J Vieira, Marco A M Guimaraes, Fernando M Aarestrup
Affiliations

Cellular profile of the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate in squamous cells carcinoma of oral mucosa: Correlation with the expression of Ki67 and histologic grading

Fabricio L D Vieira et al. BMC Oral Health. .

Abstract

Background: Squamous cells carcinoma is the most important malignant tumor with primary site in the oral cavity and, given the great exposure of mucosa and lips to the etiologic factors of this neoplasm, its incidence is high. Investigation of the prognostic determinants is significant for the expectations of treatment proposal and cure of the patient. The local immune response represented by peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate is a possible prognostic factor.

Methods: In this study, oral mucosa samples of squamous cells carcinoma were analyzed, separated according to their histological classification as well as the phenotypical profile of the cells comprising the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate was investigated by immunohistochemical method, in addiction, the cell proliferation index via protein Ki67 expression was determinated.

Results: The T lymphocytes made up most of this inflammatory infiltrate, and among these cells, there was a predominance of T CD8 lymphocytes relative to the T CD4 lymphocytes. The B lymhocytes were the second most visualized leucocyte cell type followed by macrophages and neutrophils. The immunohistochemical assessment of Ki-67 positive cells revealed a greater expression of this protein in samples of undifferentiated squamous cells carcinoma.

Conclusion: The results suggest that the cellular immune response is the main defense mechanism in squamous cells carcinoma of oral mucosa, expressed by the large number of T lymphocytes and macrophages, and that the greatest intensity of local response may be associated with the best prognosis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Morphological grading of squamous cells from the buccal mucosa. A: Well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa. N = 10. HE stain. Original magnification 200×. B: Moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa. N = 10. HE stain. Original magnification 400×. C: Undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa. N = 10. HE stain. Original magnification 400×.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Intensity of peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate. Values are expressed in simple arithmetic means ± sd. Statistical significant difference was observed when compared groups 1 and 3. p ≤ 0.05.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Immunohistochemistry for phenotypical characterization of peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate. A: lymphocytes T (CD3+ cells). Original magnification 400×. B. A: lymphocytes B (CD20+ cells). Original magnification 400× C. A: Neutrophils (CD15+cells). Original magnification 400× D. A: Macrophages (CD68+cells). Original magnification 400×.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Cellular profile of the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate. Values are expressed as simple arithmetic means ± sd. No statistical significant difference was observed when compared the groups. p ≤ 0.05.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Immunohistochemistry demonstrating expression of protein Ki67 in malignant tumor cells from samples of oral mucosa squamous cells carcinoma. A: Well-differentiated carcinoma. Original magnification 400×. B: Moderately differentiated carcinoma. Original magnification 400×. C: Undifferentiated carcinoma. Original magnification 400×.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Expression of protein Ki67 per group. Values are expressed in simple arithmetic means ± sd. Statistical significant difference was observed when compared the groups. p ≤ 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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