Immune checkpoint analysis in lip cancer

New Tumor Budding Evaluation in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Tumor budding (TB) is a histomorphological characteristic of the tumor invasion front and it has an impact on the tumor outcome prediction for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) aetiopathology.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The average TB score (TB rel) of all tumor-positive marginal sections (n = 443) in the primary tumor was analyzed in the FFPE-fixed tumor slices of 66 patients with HNSCC, and they were compared with cryo-fixed sections.

RESULTS

TB rel correlates with tumor aggressiveness (i.e., lymph node metastasis quantity, lymph node ratio, extra capsular growth, Pn1, pV1, grading). The TB scores often vary between the different tumor margins of FFPE sections in the same patient, and in many cases, they differ depending on the fixation method.

CONCLUSION

Our data show that a randomly selected marginal cut cannot reliably mirror the TB score, and thus, they cannot predict the prognostic outcome. However, TB rel could be a tool that compensates for differences in TB score analysis. TB score determination in cryo sections seems to be inaccurate compared with TB determination in FFPE.

Immune checkpoint analysis in ear cancer

BACKGROUND

Among cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, the ear (ecSCC) is one of the most common sites. Loco regional lymph node metastasis is found in six to eleven percent of cases, corresponding to increased metastasis compared to other sites. The aim of this study was to test the markers PD-L1, PD-1, CD4, CD8, and FoxP3 for suitability as prognostic predictive markers.

METHODS

Sixty-four patients with ecSCC were included in this study. The expression of immunohistochemical markers (PD-L1, PD-1, CD4, CD8, FOXP3) was correlated with retrospective clinic pathological parameters (lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, lymph node metastasis during follow-up, disease progression, disease-specific death).

RESULTS

There was a correlation between increased disease specific death and a weak Foxp3 (p = 0.003) or reduced CD8 (p = 0.04). A PD-L1 expression > 1% was found in 39.1% of patients.

CONCLUSION

The investigated markers (CD4, CD8, FoxP3, PD-1, PD-L1) seem overall rather inappropriate for prognostic evaluation in ecSCC. Only the correlation of disease specific death with CD8 or FoxP3 seems to be worth testing in larger collectives.

IMP3 Expression as a Potential Tumour Marker in High-Risk Localisations of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: IMP3 in Metastatic cSCC

BACKGROUND

High IMP3 expression is correlated with a worse outcome. Until now, there have been no data about IMP3 expression and clinical outcome for high-risk localisation of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (cSCC).

METHODS

One-hundred twenty-two patients with cSCC of the lip and ear were included, and IMP3 expression in the tumours was immunohistochemically assessed in different evaluation approaches. Subsequently, subgroups were analysed in a matched pair approach and correlated with clinical pathologic parameters. In the following, different IMP3 analysis methods were tested for clinical suitability.

RESULTS

We found a significant correlation between IMP3 expression and risk for lymph node metastasis, local relapse, and progression-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

On basis of our data, we suggest a prognostic benefit cutoff value for high (>50%) and low (<50%) IMP3 expression. Thus, IMP3 expression has a high scientific potential for further studies and could potentially be used as a prognostic marker in diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making.

Immunoexpression of PD-L1, CD4+ and CD8+ cell infiltrates and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in the microenvironment of actinic cheilitis and lower lip squamous cell carcinoma

Lower lip squamous cell carcinomas (LLSCC) could be associated with a previous history of potentially malignant oral diseases (PMOD), especially actinic cheilitis (AC), with high sun exposure being a well-described risk factor. Immune evasion mechanisms, such as the PD-1/PD-L1 (programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1) pathway has been gaining prominence since immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors showed a positive effect on the survival of patients with different types of neoplasms. Concomitant with the characterization of the tumor microenvironment, the expression of either or both PD-1 and PD-L1 molecules may estimate mutual relations of progression or regression of the carcinoma and prognostic values of the patient.