Profile and Potential Significance of Dendritic Cells in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cristina Stefania Dumitru; Amalia Raluca Ceausu; Nela Pusa Gaje; Marius Raica

doi:10.21873/cdp.10171

Profile and Potential Significance of Dendritic Cells in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cancer Diagn Progn. 2022 Nov 3;2(6):758-763. doi: 10.21873/cdp.10171. eCollection 2022 Nov-Dec.

Authors

Cristina Stefania Dumitru¹, Amalia Raluca Ceausu¹, Nela Pusa Gaje¹, Marius Raica¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of the study was the analysis of immunohistochemical expression of S100 protein and CD1a by dendritic cells (DCs) from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), correlation with the histological grade, as well as analysis of the potential significance of antigen-presenting cells according to tumor location.

Patients and methods: Samples were collected from 50 patients with HNSCC, conventionally stained with hematoxylin and eosin for pathological diagnosis and grade, followed by immunohistochemical evaluation with S100 protein and CD1a expression.

Results: The correlation of S100 expression in DCs with histological grading was significant (p=0.049). We also observed a correlation between CD1a expression and histological grading (p=0.016). DCs density was predominantly intratumoral for both CD1a (63% of cases) and S100 protein expression (25% of cases).

Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the association of DCs with histological grade. Their intratumoral infiltration suggests their potential antitumor role.

Keywords: CD1a; Dendritic cells; S100 protein; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.