title: Prognostic value of CD25 expression on lymphocytes and tumor cells in squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: CD4(+) CD25(+) T-cells play a central role in initiating and maintaining anticancer immune response. On the other hand, CD25(+) is also expressed on tumor cells, the meaning of which is currently unclear. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the prognostic value of the presence of CD4(+) CD25(+) T-cells in squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and of CD25 on SCCHN tumor cells. Thirty-five (35) patients diagnosed with a primary untreated SCCHN were included in this study. Instantly snap-frozen resection or biopsy specimens were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Histologic results obtained were related to overall, disease-free survival. On univariate analysis, both lymph-node status and the number of CD25(+) lymphocytes were associated with disease-free survival (p=0.039 and 0.04). On multivariate analysis, only the number of CD25(+) lymphocytes showed an association with disease-free survival (p=0.036), whereas both factors showed an independent association with overall survival (p=0.007 and 0.003). Contrarywise, the CD25 expression on SCCHN tumor cells was not associated with disease-free survival nor with overall survival. The presence of a high number of SCCHN-infiltrating CD4(+) CD25(+) lymphocytes is associated with a good prognosis in SCCHN patients. Contrarywise, the CD25 expression on SCCHN tumor cells is not associated with a prognosis in SCCHN patients, and its role and meaning remains to be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loose
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Signore
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonanno
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vermeersch
authors.forename: Rudi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dierckx
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deron
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van de Wiele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit