Association of immune response with overall and disease-free survival in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas

• Published in: American journal of otolaryngology Vol. 43; no. 4; p. 103477
• Main Authors: Bayrak, Asuman Feda, Eliyatkın, Nuket Özkavruk, İşlek, Akif, Özkul, Yılmaz, Kılıç, Hacer Sena, Aktas, Safiye
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.2022; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Cancer; Cancer immunotherapy; Cell survival; CTLA-4 protein; Disease; FDA approval; Immune response; Immune system; Immunotherapy; Laryngeal cancer; Laryngeal carcinoma; Ligands; Lymphocytes; Markers; Medical prognosis; Metastases; Metastasis; Monoclonal antibodies; Patients; PD-1 protein; PD-L1; PD-L1 protein; Prognosis; Regression analysis; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Squamous cell carcinoma; Survival; TILs; Tumors; United States > US; PD-L1; Laryngeal carcinoma; TILs; Cancer immunotherapy; Survival
• ISSN: 0196-0709; 1532-818X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103477

This study aimed to examine the relationship between checkpoint receptors (PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, CTLA-4) and lymphoid infiltration level (TILs) with prognostic features of patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). A retrospective study was designed at a tertiary referential university hospital between April 2008 and December 2020. The surgical specimen of the patients who met the eligibility criteria were re-examined histopathological, sociodemographic, clinical, pathological, and follow-up findings of patients were determined. The impact of PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, CTLA4, and TILs levels for the presence of cancer recurrence, disease-specific mortality, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) was investigated. Forty-five patients with LSCC were included in the study. The mean follow-up period was 48.3 ± 14.3 months (min: 36, max 84). TILs scores were detected significantly lower in patients with distant metastasis and recurrence (p = 0.046 and 0.010). Also, only TILs was a significant risk factor for recurrence and survival among the PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, CTLA-4, and TILs (HR = 0.217 CI: 0.070–0.679, p = 0.009 and HR = 0.566, CI: 0,321–980, p = 0.048). Similarly, for the TILs score: > 1 was significant for DFS. (Long-Rank = 0.009). The examined markers and TILs scores were not a significant predictive factor for OS. An increase in TILs density in LSCCs is associated with a better prognosis. However, PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, CTLA-4 could not be associated with prognosis. Controlled studies combined with immunotherapy treatment results are needed to reveal their role as a marker and prognostic factor of the anti-tumor immune response. •Cancer immunotherapy is a potential treatment option for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).•An increase in TILs density in Laryngeal SCCs is associated with a better prognosis.•Other immune-checkpoint receptors; PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, CTLA-4 was not be associated with prognosis.