Loss of intercellular bridges in the depth of invasion measurement area is a novel negative prognostic factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective study

Kunio Yoshizawa; Yujiro Kimura; Akinori Moroi; Hiroki Ishii; Daiju Sakurai; Masao Saitoh; Naoki Oishi; Tetsuo Kondo; Masahiro Toyoura; Koichiro Ueki

doi:10.1016/j.oooo.2022.02.017

Loss of intercellular bridges in the depth of invasion measurement area is a novel negative prognostic factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective study

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2022 Jul;134(1):84-92. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2022.02.017. Epub 2022 Mar 4.

Authors

Kunio Yoshizawa¹, Yujiro Kimura², Akinori Moroi³, Hiroki Ishii⁴, Daiju Sakurai⁵, Masao Saitoh⁶, Naoki Oishi⁷, Tetsuo Kondo⁸, Masahiro Toyoura⁹, Koichiro Ueki¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo City, Yamanashi, Japan. Electronic address: Yoshizawak@yamanashi.ac.jp.
² Graduate Student, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo City, Yamanashi, Japan.
³ Lecturer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo City, Yamanashi, Japan.
⁴ Lecturer, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo City, Yamanashi, Japan.
⁵ Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo City, Yamanashi, Japan.
⁶ Professor, Center for Medical Education and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo City, Yamanashi, Japan.
⁷ Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo City, Yamanashi, Japan.
⁸ Professor, Department of Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo City, Yamanashi, Japan.
⁹ Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan.
¹⁰ Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo City, Yamanashi, Japan.

PMID: 35595622
DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2022.02.017

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate intercellular bridges in the depth of invasion (DOI) measurement area as prognostic factors in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Study design: The mode of invasion was determined based on the Yamamoto-Kohama classification system by observing the hematoxylin-eosin-stained whole-slide images of specimens obtained from 78 patients with OSCC, and the clinicopathologic features were characterized. The presence of intercellular bridges was analyzed in 46 patients with Yamamoto-Kohama classification grade ≥3 whose DOI was measured by dividing the measurement area into 3 parts: the surface, center, and front of the tumor.

Results: Univariate analyses identified lymph node metastasis, loss of intercellular bridges in the DOI measurement area, DOI of ≥4500 µm, and pattern of invasion 4C-4D as negative prognostic factors. Multivariate analyses revealed that lymph node metastasis and the loss of intercellular bridges in the entire area were independent factors, with hazard ratios of 9.34 (95% confidence interval, 2.09-42.03; P = .003) and 3.64 (95% confidence interval, 1.10-11.99; P = .045), respectively.

Conclusions: Loss of intercellular bridges in the DOI measurement area is a negative prognostic factor for OSCC and may be useful in selecting treatment.

MeSH terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / pathology
Head and Neck Neoplasms* / pathology
Humans
Lymphatic Metastasis
Mouth Neoplasms* / pathology
Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
Neoplasm Staging
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck