Affiliation:
1. Department of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan China
2. Research Center of Oral and Maxillofacial Tumor, Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan China
3. Institute of Oral Precancerous Lesions Central South University Changsha Hunan China
4. Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
5. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology Guangzhou Guangdong China
Abstract
AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the characteristics of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and their association with clinical and pathological features.Materials and Methods12 TLS‐related chemokines in TCGA database were analyzed to investigate the TLSs in OSCC. The density, maturity, and location of TLSs in a large cohort of 189 OSCC patients (114 of which had clinical and prognostic information) were assessed. And the significance between TLSs and clinicopathologic characteristics was analyzed.ResultsBioinformatics and analysis showed that TLSs were associated with better clinical outcomes in OSCC. Histological staining and analysis showed that the overall survival rate of the high‐density group (71/112, 63.4%) was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than that of the low‐density group (41/112, 36.6%), and the high‐density group had fewer lymph node metastases (50.0%/68.3%, p = 0.021). And TLSs were divided into 4 types according to the maturity and location. Different types of TLSs are associated with prognosis (OS, p < 0.0001), clinical features (T stage, p = 0.028; degree of differentiation, p = 0.043), and precancerous lesion types (OSF, p = 0.049) of OSCC patients.ConclusionTLSs were closely associated with better OSCC prognosis, and a more systematic classification may better guide the formulation of further treatment options.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province