Immunohistochemical Analysis of Foxp3+, CD4+, CD8+ Cell Infiltrates and PD-L1 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The immunoexpression of the PD-L1 and the number of immune infiltrating cells have been shown to be a significant prognostic factors in various human cancers. Immunohistochemical method was used to examine the immunoexpression of PD-L1 and number of Foxp3+, CD4+, CD8+ cells in 78 cases of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs): with better prognosis - OSCCBP (n = 37), and with poorer prognosis - OSCCPP (n = 41), and 18 cases of normal mucosa as a control. The immunoexpression of PD-L1 and the mean number of Foxp3+ cells was significantly increased in OSCCPP group in comparison to OSCCBP and control groups. The mean number of CD4+ cells was significantly increased in OSCCPP group in comparison to OSCCBP and control groups. CD8+ cells were significantly more numerous in OSCCBP group in comparison to OSCCPP and control group. In both OSCCPP and OSCCBP groups there were positive significant correlations between number of Foxp3+ and CD4+ cells. We found positive correlations between the immunoexpression of PD-L1 and numbers of Foxp3+ cells, and negative correlation between the immunoexpression of PD-L1 and numbers of CD8+ cells in both OSCCPP and OSCCBP groups. We found also significant positive correlation between immunoexpression of PD-L1 and the number of CD4+ cells in OSCCPP group. In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis of involvement of Tregs and PD-L1 in OSCC development and progression.