Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes:As a prognostic parameter in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Oral cavity cancer ranks among the prevalent malignancies globally, constituting roughly 30% of all cancer cases in the nation. The assessment of Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has garnered significant international interest as a prospective prognostic biomarker for cancer, offering valuable insights for clinical decision-making. TILs are evaluated based on the ratio of lymphocytes infiltrating the stromal area.A two-year retrospective study was conducted, analysing 30 cases of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) to examine routine clinicopathological factors alongside Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stained sections. TILs were categorized into low, moderate, and high grades.In the study, 30 cases of OSCC underwent analysis, focusing on histopathological parameters and TILs. Patient ages ranged from 25 to 70 years, and a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. Among the cases, 20 (66.7%) were well-differentiated, 9 (30%) were moderately differentiated, and only 1 (3.3%) was poorly differentiated. High TILs were found in 16 cases (53.3%), moderate TILs in 12 cases (40.0%), and low TILs in 2 cases (6.7%). Importantly, a significant correlation was observed between TILs and histological grade (p-value = 0.001), as well as between TILs and pT stage (p-value = 0.001).In summary, tumors with a high degree of differentiation exhibited elevated TILs, while those with poor differentiation displayed lower TIL levels. Given their accessibility and predictive value, these TIL assessments could serve as valuable prognostic indicators for guiding treatment strategies.