title: Regulatory T-cell infiltration in tongue squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  In tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), high levels of regulatory T-cell (Treg) infiltration in tumor nests are observed in the cases with poor prognosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The role of Tregs in head and neck cancers remains unclear. The aim of this study was to observe the distribution of Tregs in different stages of tongue SCC and estimate the effects on prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four cases with tongue SCC were examined immunohistochemically for CD4, CD8, and Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3). Immunoreactive cells were counted in cancer stroma and nest regions, and relationships between cell numbers and disease-free survival rates were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 34 cases, univariate analysis for disease-free survival indicated high-level infiltration of Tregs (CD4(+)Foxp3+) into both cancer nests and stroma and presence of helper T (CD4(+)Foxp3-) cells in cancer stroma as potential predictors of significantly worse prognosis. In early-stage cases (stage I/II), high-level infiltration of Tregs in cancer nests correlated significantly with poor disease-free survival rate. Multivariate analysis for disease-free survival found no independent variables.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hanakawa
authors.forename: Yorihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Orita
authors.forename: Yasuharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Kyotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gion
authors.forename: Kiyoaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsukahara
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tamamura
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagatsuka
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishizaki
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Foxp3; Immunohistochemical study; disease-free survival; tumor nest