Differential infiltration of CD4, CD8 and macrophage in oral squamous cell carcinoma (Immnoistochemical study)

Abstract

Oral Squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is by far the most common malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity. It is an aggressive and lethal malignancy. The oral squamous cell carcinoma microenvironments contain many immune cells and their secretory products. Cell-mediated immunity and the innate immune system may interact with cancer cells and plays an important role in immune responses against cancer, CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are key effectors cells in antitumor immunity, while CD4 T cell have cardinal role in orchestrating antibody production and the activation of CD8 T cells and macrophages to exhibit antitumor functions. This suggests that immune system-related mechanisms have an effect on the development and spread of malignant diseases in humans Materials and methods: Thirty formalin-fixed, paraffin- embedded blocks of oral squamous cell carcinoma were included in this study. H&E stain was done for each block for reassessment of histological examination. The expression of CD4, CD8 and macrophages were detected by immunehistochemistry. Results: Immunehistochemical mean expression level of CD4, CD8 and macrophage in OSCC was (54.67) %, (51.08) % and (55.93) % respectively. Non significant correlation was obtained among the three studied infiltrates with clinicopathological findings of OSCC and with each other. Conclusion: Immunohistochemical expression of CD4, CD8 and macrophage infiltrates were observed in all studying samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma, however, statistically non significant correlation was found between the mean expression level of these infiltrates with all clinicopathological findings of OSCC and with each other. Increasing expression level of CD4, CD8 and macrophage infiltration in all studied cases of OSCC suggest their important role in oral carcinogenesis, however further studies with larger samples needed to identify their exact correlation with clinicopathological features of tumor.