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Distinct expression patterns of Toll‐like receptor 7 in tumour cells and fibroblast‐like cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Ni Yan Hong,
Ding Liang,
Zhang Dong Ya,
Hou Ya Yi,
Huang Xiaofeng,
Hu Qingang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/his.12703
Subject(s) - foxp3 , stroma , cancer research , immunohistochemistry , metastasis , immunotherapy , pathology , biology , receptor , cancer , medicine , immune system , immunology
Aims Toll‐like receptor ( TLR )‐7 agonists have been used in cancer immunotherapy, but tumour heterogeneity means that TLR ‐7 activity is variable in different components of the tumour microenvironment and the characteristics of TLR ‐7 in oral squamous cell carcinoma ( OSCC ) are unclear. Methods and results Twenty healthy oral tissues, 50 oral leukoplakia tissues and 166 retrospective primary OSCC samples were collected for immunohistochemical staining of TLR ‐7 and showed up‐regulated expression during carcinogenesis. Moreover, patients with high expression of TLR ‐7 in tumour cells ( TC s) had poor differentiation and prognosis. Interestingly, patients with high expression of TLR ‐7 in stroma fibroblast‐like cells ( FLC s) had low tumour stage, no lymph node metastasis ( LNM ) and better prognosis. Furthermore, Ki‐67, CD 3, CD 4, CD 8 and forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) + tumour‐infiltrated lymphocytes were assessed and we found that TLR ‐7 high TC s were infiltrated by fewer CD 3 + CD 4 + but more FoxP3 + lymphocytes. Importantly, patients with TLR ‐7 low TC s and TLR ‐7 high FLC s had less FoxP3 + lymphocyte infiltration and longer survival time than those with TLR ‐7 high TC s/ TLR ‐7 low FLC s, although TLR ‐7 was not an independent prognostic factor for OSCC . Conclusions The low expression of TLR ‐7 in tumour and high expression of TLR ‐7 in stroma predict a good clinical outcome for OSCC patients, and stroma FLC s might be amenable to immunotherapy by a TLR ‐7 agonist.