Evaluation of Cd8+and natural killer cells defense in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the population of CD8+ and natural killer (NK) cells in samples of oral (OSCC) and oropharyngeal (OPSCC) squamous cell carcinoma. Patients and methods: Fifty-four cases squamous cell carcinoma (42 OSCC and 12 OPSCC) were immunohistochemically treated by CD8 and CD57 monoclonal antibodies. It was evaluated the relationship of CD8thorn and NK cells with tumor size, lymph node metastasis (LNM), clinical staging (CS), overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: Only CD8 was higher expressed in both tumors T1 and T2 than T3 and T4, as well as in tumours without LNM and with CS II or III (P < 0.05). There was no association with OS and DFS of both biomarkers. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the differential CD8thorn cells infiltration in OSCC and OPSCC might reflect a distinctive tumor microenvironment with a favorable local cytotoxic immune response against neoplastic cells. (C) 2019 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.