Low expression of CD40L in tumor-free lymph node of oral cavity cancer related with poor prognosis

• Published in: International journal of clinical oncology 2018-10, Vol.23 (5), p.851-859
• Main Authors: Rah, Yoon Chan, Ahn, Jae-Cheul, Jeon, Eun-Hui, Kim, Hyojin, Paik, Jin Ho, Jeong, Woo-Jin, Kwon, Soon-Young, Ahn, Soon-Hyun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antigen processing; B7-1 Antigen - genetics; B7-1 Antigen - metabolism; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cancer Research; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - mortality; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; CD40 Ligand - genetics; CD40 Ligand - metabolism; CD40L protein; CD80 antigen; Disease-Free Survival; DNA microarrays; Female; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Gene regulation; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Lymph nodes; Lymph Nodes - metabolism; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphatic system; Male; Medical prognosis; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms - metabolism; Mouth Neoplasms - mortality; Mouth Neoplasms - pathology; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasm Staging; Oncology; Oral cancer; Oral cavity; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Original Article; Prognosis; Protein expression; Squamous cell carcinoma; Surgical Oncology; Transformed cells; Tumors
• ISSN: 1341-9625; 1437-7772
• DOI: 10.1007/s10147-018-1294-3

Background Recently, the genetic alterations associated with tumor progression and impaired host immunity against transformed cells draw increased attention. Here, we characterized the differential gene expression patterns and protein expression in tumor-free lymph node from recurrent and non-recurrent tumors to identify independent prognostic markers for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods A cDNA microarray analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes in regional tumor-free lymph nodes from OSCC patients with and without recurrence. Then, the protein expression of the selected genes was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 60 OSCC patients to determine their association with survival. Results Widespread down-regulation of genes involved in antigen processing and recognition in lymph nodes was a distinctive feature. In univariate Kaplan–Meier analysis, lower expression of CD40L and CD80 in tumor-free lymph nodes was significantly correlated with poorer survival. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, CD40L was identified as an independent prognostic marker of disease-free survival. Conclusion Our data indicate that impaired host immunity (decreased CD40L expression) along with the TNM staging might be an important factor determining the prognosis of OSCC.