Abstract
This study evaluates the effects of tumour-associated mast cells on the prognosis of patients suffering from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Tryptase-positive (MCT+) and CD117-positive (CD117+) mast cells were immunohistochemically evaluated in tissue samples of 118 OSCC patients. Besides, various clinicopathological parameters, the influence of the MCT+ and CD117+ mast cell density on overall survival and the incidence of first local recurrence was analysed by Cox regression and competing risk regression. Among all investigated parameters, multiple Cox regression revealed a significant influence of the MCT+ (cut-off at 14.87 mast cells/mm2 stroma; p = 0.0027) and CD117+ mast cell density (cut-off at 33.19 mast cells/mm2 stroma; p = 0.004), the age at primary diagnosis, and the T and N stage (all p-values < 0.05) on overall survival. Patients with a low mast cell density showed a significantly poorer overall survival rate compared to those with a high mast cell density in the tumour-associated stroma. Competing risk regression revealed a significant influence of the resection status (R) on the incidence of first local recurrence (p = 0.0023). A high mast cell density in the tumour-associated stroma of oral squamous cell carcinoma indicates a longer patient survival.
Highlights
Besides their important function as potent effector cells of the immune system[1], mast cells can support as well as suppress tumour development and progression[2]
MCT+ and CD117+ mast cells could be observed, which were mainly located in the tumour-associated stroma (Figs 1A and 2A)
Lamaroon and colleagues have investigated the correlation between mast cell density and angiogenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) immunohistochemically; they have concluded that mast cells may upregulate tumour angiogenesis via the mast cell specific tryptase[19]
Summary
Besides their important function as potent effector cells of the immune system[1], mast cells can support as well as suppress tumour development and progression[2]. Mast cells have a TNF-induced cytotoxic effect on tumour cells[13] and promote apoptosis[12]; via the release of different interleukins such as CCL5, CXCL8, CXCL10, and IL-6, they can recruit and activate various immune cells that inhibit tumour growth[13]. These different findings strongly depend on mast cell localization and whether they are in close contact with tumour cells or located in the tumour stroma[2,19,20]. To evaluate the effects of tumour-associated mast cells on the prognosis of patients suffering from OSCC, we analysed the relevance of the mast cell density in the tissue samples of 118 patients compared to a comprehensive spectrum of clinicopathological parameters by using a multivariable statistical approach
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