ABSTRACT
Background: The dismal survival of one of the commonest malignancies of the world, head neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), has prompted researchers to probe into its various characteristics, especially those which reflect the outcome. Over the years, even though epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) have emerged as useful biomarkers of the disease, the two parameters have rarely been considered in conjunction. Aims and Objectives: The study aimed to assess if there is any correlation between TIL levels (both stromal and intratumoral) and site, grade, stage, and EGFR score of HNSCC. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in which histopathologically confirmed cases of HNSCC were included. The site of tumor, grade, stage, stromal and intratumoral TIL levels, and EGFR score were noted for each case. The data were analyzed using standard statistical tests. Results: The study population consisted of 122 patients with a mean age of 53.8 ± 9.2 years. The oral cavity was the commonest site of tumor (109 cases, 89.3%). Most cases were moderately differentiated (75, 61.5%). Pathological staging showed 66 cases (54%) to be in pT1, and 92 cases (75.4%) to be in pN0. In 68 cases (55.7%), stromal TIL level was high, and intratumoral TIL was low in 102 cases (83.6%). A statistically significant correlation was found between TIL levels and site, grade, pathological stage, and EGFR score of HNSCC. Conclusion: This pioneering study is unique in its exploration of the correlation between two significant biomarkers of HNSCC – TIL and EGFR score.
ABSTRACT
To investigate the correlation between the clinical features and the expression of p53, PCNA, and Ki-67 of the head neck squamous cell carcinoma, immunohistochemicalstaining of p53, PCNA, and Ki-67 on the paraffin embedded tissue blocks of 116 surgically removed specimens were done. The staining intensity was divided as grade 1 to grade 3 and the results were statistically analysed. 1. The positive reation rates of cell proliferation markers (PCNA and Ki-67) were higher than that of p53. There was significant correlations of the PCNA and Ki-67 expression but there was no significant correlations between p53 and PCNA or p53 and Ki-67. 2. There were no significant correlation between the expression of p53, PCNA and Ki-67 and tumor site or tumor size. 3. There was no significant differences in the positive response according to the nodal status. The node metastasis groups revealed that higher proportion of grade 3 staining of PCNA and Ki-67 than node negative group. From the above results it is concluded that p53 and cell proliferation markers PCNA and Ki-67 might have their unique mechanism involving in the growing and progression of tumor. Overexpression of p53 does not appear to represent an independent prognostic marker in head neck squamous cell carcinoma.