title: CD70 Expression and Its Correlation with Clinicopathological Variables in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Over the last decade, efforts have been made to get a better understanding of the tumor microenvironment and the role of the immune system in it. New insights into the CD27/CD70 signaling pathway point towards a role in tumor immunology, making CD70 an attractive target for immunotherapy. Here, we evaluate CD70 expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
  
  
  METHODS
  CD70 immunohistochemistry was retrospectively performed on 95 tumor samples. Tumoral CD70 expression was scored and correlated with clinicopathological variables and overall survival (OS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD70 expression in tumor cells was observed in 66 samples (69%) and was strongly associated with tumor differentiation grade (p < 0.001). CD70 expression was also observed in tumor-associated fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Additionally, the density of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes correlated with OS (p = 0.042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study describes the tumoral expression of CD70 in SCCHN. Results highlight the role of CD70 in tumor biology and identify CD70 as a novel therapeutic target. Further research is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Meulenaere
authors.forename: Tijl
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vermassen
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aspeslagh
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zwaenepoel
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deron
authors.forename: Fréderic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duprez
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferdinande
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rottey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D053282:CD27 Ligand / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053282:CD27 Ligand; C505771:CD70 protein, human