Eosinophils and oral squamous cell carcinoma: a short review

Abstract

The eosinophil cell has been related as a prognostic indicator for cancers. However, its exact function in tumour behaviour is still not clearly defined. In the oral cavity the presence of eosinophils can be a favourable prognostic indicator as well as it may be associated with a poor prognosis. In this short review, we briefly summarize the role of the eosinophils in the general context of immunoregulation and its relation to oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Figure 1

Eosinophil function in the immune response. The eosinophils can stimulate or inhibit the immune response, leading to a probable good or poor prognosis, respectively. EPO: Eosinophil peroxidase; MBP: Major basic protein; ECP: Eosinphil cationic protein; EDN: Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin; IL (Interleukin)-4, IL5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13; IFN-γ: Interferon-γ; MHC II: histocompatibility complex II molecules; IDO: indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase; TGF-β: Transforming growth factor-β.

Figure 2

Oral squamous cell carcinoma showing rather numerous eosinophils (black arrows), together with lymphocytes, mingling around nests of nonkeratinized neoplastic oral epithelial cells. Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue, H&E stained, original magnification ×400.