INFLAMMATORY INFILTRATE AND TUMOR BUDDING IN LIP SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to describe the morphologic characteristics of lip squamous cells carcinomas focusing in the invasive front and its association with tumor budding, and the presence of neutrophils and T lymphocytes. Study Design We included 43 surgical specimens of lip squamous cells carcinoma and classified them in accordance with a histologic invasive front grading system. Immunohistochemistry was performed for CD66b and CD3 for evaluation of neutrophils and T lymphocytes, respectively, in the invasive front of the tumors. Tumor budding was evidenced by AE1/AE3 staining. Results Thirty-six (83.7%) tumors were well-differentiated tumors. Eleven (25.6%) cases exhibited high-intensity tumor budding. There were low neutrophil and high T lymphocyte infiltrations in the invasive front, leading to a low neutrophil to T lymphocyte ratio in the same region. Moreover, we found an association between tumor budding and pattern of invasion, and also between CD3+ cell count and inflammatory infiltrate (P Conclusions The few cases showing high-intensity tumor budding, as well as the low neutrophil and high T-lymphocyte infiltration in the invasive front, are in accordance with the histopathological features of well-differentiated tumors. These morphologic parameters should be adjunct tools in the evaluation of lip squamous cell carcinomas. Support: FAPEMIG.