NKG2D (Natural Killer Group 2, Member D) ligand expression and ameloblastoma recurrence: a retrospective immunohistological pilot study

• Published in: BMC oral health 2024-09, Vol.24 (1), p.1102-11, Article 1102
• Main Authors: Kim, Mee-Seon, Jeon, Soeun, Lee, Hyeon Jeong, Ri, Hyun-Su, Cho, Ah-Reum, Park, Eun Ji, Yeo, Jin Song, Kim, Jae-Han, Lee, Jiyoun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Ameloblastoma; Ameloblastoma - metabolism; Ameloblastoma - pathology; Ameloblastoma - surgery; Analysis; Anesthesia; Antibodies; Autoimmune diseases; Binding proteins; Biopsy; Cancer; Care and treatment; Cytotoxicity, immunologic; Electronic medical records; Female; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Immunosurveillance; Jaw Neoplasms - metabolism; Jaw Neoplasms - pathology; Jaw Neoplasms - surgery; Killer cells, natural; Ligands; Major histocompatibility complex; Male; Medical prognosis; Medical records; Middle Aged; Mouth tumors; Multivariate analysis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - pathology; Neuromuscular diseases; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K - metabolism; Odontogenic tumors; Patients; Pilot Projects; Prognosis; Regression analysis; Relapse; Retrospective Studies; Statistical analysis; Surgery; Tumors; Variables; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1472-6831; 1472-6831
• DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04873-8

This retrospective immunohistological pilot study aimed to investigate the influence of natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) ligand expression on ameloblastoma recurrence after surgical resection. It also aimed to elucidate additional clinical factors that could serve as predictors of ameloblastoma recurrence. This study included 96 patients who were histologically diagnosed with ameloblastoma after surgical resection. The expression of NKG2D ligands, including UL16-binding proteins (ULBPs) 1-3 and major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related molecule (MIC) A/B, was evaluated in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissues via immunohistochemistry assays. Furthermore, the patients' electronic medical records were reviewed. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was conducted, and data were expressed as adjusted hazard ratios [HRs] with 95% confidence intervals [95% CIs]. Multivariate analysis revealed that recurrent tumors (ref.: primary; adjusted HR [95% CI]: 2.780 [1.136, 6.803], p = 0.025) and positive MICA/B expression (ref.: negative; adjusted HR [95% CI]: 0.223 [0.050, 0.989], p = 0.048) independently affected recurrence-free survival in ameloblastoma. This study identified recurrent cases and loss of MICA/B expression as independent predictors of early ameloblastoma recurrence following surgical resection. The findings suggest that decreased MICA/B expression might undermine NKG2D-mediated tumor immunosurveillance, thereby influencing early recurrence.