Original article / research
Immunohistochemical Expression of
FOXP3 and CD8 in Oral Squamous Cell
Carcinoma: A Cross-sectional Study
EC01-EC05
Correspondence
Dr. TN Suresh,
Professor and Head, Department of Pathology, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College,
Tamaka-563103, Kolar, Karnataka, India.
E-mail: Sureshtn.path@gmail.com
Introduction: In India, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is among the top three malignancies. Tumour-Infiltrating Immune Cells (TIIC), as key elements of tumour microenvironment have recently been demonstrated to be crucial to the development and spread of cancer. The immune infiltrates of tumours is predominantly lymphocytes with T cells being major cell type.
Aim: To determine FOXP3 and CD8 immunohistochemical expression in OSCC and its correlation with Tumour -NodeMetastasis (TNM) staging and lymph node metastases.
Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional laboratory based study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Tamaka, Kolar, Karnataka, India from April 2023 to April 2025. A total of 86 histologically confirmed cases of OSCC were screened for lymph node metastases, graded and TNM staged using the current American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging criteria. The cases were then immunohistochemically stained using FOXP3 and CD8. Data analysis was done using Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Somers, NY, USA). Chi-square test/Fischer’s exact test was employed as the test of significance. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to perform correlations. A p-value <0.05 was deemed statistically significant.
Results: The study patients were predominantly females and the mean age of the patients was 52 years. Nodal metastases were present in 37 (43%) of patients. Among the cases studied, 3 (3.5%), 18 (20.9%), 23 (26.7%),30 (34.9%) and 12 (14%) belonged to stage I, II, III, IVA and IVB, respectively. High CD8+IM (invasive margin) was associated with node negative cases (p=0.0074). Low CD8+IM (invasive margin) was associated with higher TNM stages (p=0.0092). Increased CD8+IM/FOXP3+ ratio was associated with lower TNM stages (p=0.023).
Conclusion: The quantity, location and roles of Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) are dynamic in nature. CD8+ IM (invasive margin)/FOXP3+ ratio is a promising biomarker in cancer research. Modulating this ratio could enhance antitumour immunity and improve treatment outcomes.