Angiogenesis, Proliferative Activity and DNA Ploidy in Oral Verrucous Carcinoma: A Comparative Study Including Verrucous Hyperplasia and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

CD8+ T Cells and PD-L1 Expression as Prognostic Indicators in a Low Prevalence of HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection detected in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is associated with a better survival outcome from previous literature. However, Thailand and several Asian countries have a low prevalence of HPV-associated OPSCC and, therefore, have a low positive rate of immunostaining with p16. Tumor microenvironments (TME), including tumor-infiltrating CD8+ lymphocytes (CD8+ TIL) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), are proposed as significant prognostic indicators in addition to p16.

OBJECTIVES

Explore the expression p16, CD8+ TIL, and PD-L1 and its value as prognostic indicators for overall survival (OS) in patients with OPSCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from patients with OPSCC diagnosed from 2012 to 2018 were recovered from medical records and national registry. All available glass slides and slides of immunohistochemistry (IHC) of p16, CD8, and PD-L1 were reviewed. The TME was classified into four types according to the expression pattern of PD-L1 and CD8+TIL. Overall survival (OS) was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model analysis.

RESULTS

In 160 OPSCC patients, p16 was positive in 27 (16.88%). The density of CD8+ TIL was higher in the p16+ and PD-L1+ groups (p = 0.005, 0.039); however, there was no association between p16 and the status of PD-L1. P16 and CD8+ TIL were significant prognostic factors for better OS (p = 0.007, 0.001), but not PD-L1 status (p = 0.317). Among the four types of TME, carcinoma showed mainly type IV TME (PD-L1-/TIL+), while OPSCCs with type I TME (PD-L1+/TIL+) had the best survival outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The positivity of p16 and the density of CD8+ TIL were associated with better OS in OPSCC, while the status of PD-L1 was not significantly related to OS. OPSCC with type I TME (PD-L1+/TIL+) showed the best prognosis of all types of TME.

Do Clear Cell Changes in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Warrant It Being Recognised as a Variant?

Histological variants of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) include verrucous, basaloid, spindle cell, adenosquamous, papillary, and acantholytic types. Clear-cell changes in OSCC are rare.

We report a case of a 65-year-old male Chinese patient who presented with a swelling in the lower-left mandible for three weeks, causing ill-fitting of his lower denture and an ulcer on the floor of the mouth. Histologically, the lesion showed a dense proliferation of malignant tumor cells arranged in islands and sheets consisting of squamoid cells intermixed with signet ring-shaped clear cells. The clear cells were negative for mucicarmine, periodic acid Schiff (PAS), periodic acid Schiff-diastase (PAS-D), and alcian blue (AB). Immunohistochemistry showed the tumor cells were immuno-positive for cytokeratin (CK) and p63, but CK7, CK20, and S100 were immuno-negative. Therefore, a metastatic tumor in the oral cavity was suggested. However, the CT scan did not show any primary tumors in other sites. Histopathologically, the surgical specimen showed signet-ring-shaped clear cells in the stroma with squamoid cells invading the underlying connective tissue from the surface epithelium, suggesting a diagnosis of clear cell changes in OSCC. Follow-up showed recurrent OSCC at the base of the tongue with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis in the lung.

Only a few cases of clear-cell changes have been reported, with most having a poor prognosis. This case report adds one more case of clear cell changes in the OSCC with a poor prognosis. We reviewed the literature to understand their clinical behavior. Due to the rarity of its (clear cell changes) occurrence, further research is required in order to obtain a better understanding of the clinical behavior and prognosis of these clear cell changes seen in OSCC.

Cancer-Associated Stromal Cells Promote the Contribution of MMP2-Positive Bone Marrow-Derived Cells to Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Invasion

Simple Summary

Based on its invasiveness, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) shows two different subtypes: less-invasive verrucous squamous carcinoma (VSCC) or highly invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The stromal component influences OSCC progression and invasion. On the other hand, bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) are recruited into tumors and involved in tumor development. We hypothesized that stromal factors might also affect the relation of BMDCs and tumor invasion. We established the OSCC models transplanted with stromal cells from VSCC and SCC, and we compared the potential stromal factors of VSCC and SCC for the involvement of BMDCs in tumor invasion. Our study showed that stromal factors IL6 and IL1B might promote the contribution of MMP-2 positive BMDCs to OSCC invasion.

Abstract

Tumor stromal components contribute to tumor development and invasion. However, the role of stromal cells in the contribution of bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) invasion is unclear. In the present study, we created two different invasive OSCC patient-derived stroma xenografts (PDSXs) and analyzed and compared the effects of stromal cells on the relation of BMDCs and tumor invasion. We isolated stromal cells from two OSCC patients: less invasive verrucous OSCC (VSCC) and highly invasive conventional OSCC (SCC) and co-xenografted with the OSCC cell line (HSC-2) on green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive bone marrow (BM) cells transplanted mice. We traced the GFP-positive BM cells by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and detected matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) expression on BM cells by double fluorescent IHC. The results indicated that the SCC-PDSX promotes MMP2-positive BMDCs recruitment to the invasive front line of the tumor. Furthermore, microarray analysis revealed that the expressions of interleukin 6; IL-6 mRNA and interleukin 1 beta; IL1B mRNA were higher in SCC stromal cells than in VSCC stromal cells. Thus, our study first reports that IL-6 and IL1B might be the potential stromal factors promoting the contribution of MMP2-positive BMDCs to OSCC invasion.

Clinicopathologic analysis of verrucous hyperplasia, verrucous carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma as part of the clinicopathologic spectrum of oral proliferative verrucous leukoplakia: A literature review and analysis

OBJECTIVE

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia is classified as a potentially malignant disorder because of its high rate of malignant transformation. PVL progresses in a series of clinical stages where the early stage represents multiple, multifocal leukoplakias with a high recurrence rate. The intermediate and late stages are clinically exophytic lesion, diagnosed microscopically as verrucous hyperplasia that often progresses into verrucous carcinoma and/or squamous cell carcinoma. There is no single histologic definition and the diagnosis is retrospective following observed progression of the disorder. The goal of the current study was to conduct a literature review and analysis of PVL in the later stages to gain further knowledge on their clinicopathologic features.

DATA SOURCES

Medline's PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for adequately documented cases from 1985 to 2018. References of published articles were searched for additional cases.

REVIEW METHODS

Overall, 57 manuscripts were analyzed. 35/57 manuscripts provided adequate data on the clinicopathologic features in the premalignant and malignant stages.

RESULTS

Malignant transformation rate was 50% (average of 57 months). Gingiva, palate and buccal mucosa were the most common locations. Clinicopathologic features included; well differentiated carcinoma (78%), perineural invasion (3%), lymph node metastasis (4%); distant metastasis (0%), average duration of illness (65 months), DOD-dead of disease (44%). Moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ were exceptionally uncommon in the premalignant stages (0.8%).

CONCLUSION

Prognostic factors such as perineural invasion, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis were uncommon occurrences which may have practical implications on treatment. Further studies are needed to substantiate our findings.

Update from the 4th Edition of the World Health Organization of Head and Neck Tumours: Tumours of the Oral Cavity and Mobile Tongue

There have been several additions and deletions in Chapter 4 on Tumours of the oral cavity and mobile tongue in the 2017 fourth edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumours of the Head and Neck. This chapter excludes the oropharynx, which now is a stand-alone chapter acknowledging the uniqueness of the oropharynx from the oral cavity. New entries in Chapter 4 include rhabdomyoma, haemangioma, schwannoma, neurofibroma and myofibroblastic sarcoma in the section titled Soft tissue and neural tumours. Discussion of salivary gland entities have been reduced and includes mucoepidermoid carcinoma and pleomorphic adenoma as the other salivary gland types are discussed elsewhere. In the Haematolymphoid tumours section, like the salivary gland section, only tumors that commonly present in the oral cavity are discussed in Chapter 4. Excluded entities in the updated classification include papillary hyperplasia, median rhomboid glossitis, keratoacanthoma, focal oral mucinosis, and secondary tumors. This article will summarize the changes in the new classification since the 2005 edition focusing on selected entities that have had significant changes along with new entries.

Diagnostic Biomarkers in Oral Verrucous Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

Oral verrucous carcinoma (OVC), a low-grade variant of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is most frequently seen in the oral cavity. No clear etiology has been found for this lesion, but human papilloma virus, chewing betel nuts, and ultraviolet radiation are suggested as probable causes. Differential diagnosis of OVC is challenging for oral pathologists. The aim of this study was to review the molecular-based approaches for differential diagnosis of OVC. An electronic search was conducted in Medline and Scopus from January 2004 to July 2015 limited to English language publications. Published papers on verrucous carcinoma (VC) were found according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and analyzed qualitatively. Data extraction were performed according to PRISMA statement. A total of 423 articles were reviewed; out of which, 26 articles completely fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Most of the included studies investigated proliferative and apoptotic biomarkers such as p53 and Ki67. No definite conclusion was drawn for cytoskeletal biomarkers due to variability of factors and lack of significant expression. However, it seems that cytokeratin10 (CK 10) can be useful for differentiation of OVC and benign squamous lesions. Among cell surface and extracellular matrix biomarkers tissue biomarkers, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, -9, CD31 and CD68 seem to be useful for differentiation of OVC and OSCC and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) can help in differentiation of OVC from oral epithelial dysplasia. Differences among OVC, OSCC and normal epithelium in expression profiles of the investigated biomarkers help in their differential diagnosis; although, clinicohistopathological similarities among verrucous hyperplasia, noninvasive OVC and invasive well-differentiated OSCC make the diagnosis difficult. Further studies are required to better differentiate these oral lesions.

Oral verrucous carcinoma: From multifactorial etiology to diverse treatment regimens (Review)

Oral verrucous carcinoma (OVC) is a verrucous variant of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which accounts for 2-12% of all oral carcinomas with a 5-year survival rate of only approximately 50%. Enormous effort has been dedicated to this cancer, and the past decades have witnessed significant advances in relevant diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Currently, there exist three challenges from primary sub-fields of research and clinical practice of the cancer, namely multifactorial etiology, complex molecular mechanism, and deficient treatment. This study reviews the existing literature on the cancer, encompassing its etiology, clinical manifestations and pathology, molecular mechanism, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and treatment. For improved treatment of OVC, multifactorial etiology analysis, incorporation of effective biomarkers for mechanism illustration, and integration of multidisciplinary modalities are expounded, in an attempt to resolve the challenges and to provide a useful guide for future research in the field.