Background & objective: Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most important antigen-presenting cells. CD1a, a marker of immature DCs, plays a role in tumorigenesis. This study was designed to explore the correlation of CD1a(+) DCs to pathologic degree, T stage, local recurrence, and prognosis of glottic squamous cell carcinoma.
Methods: Clinical and follow-up data of 111 patients with glottic squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed retrospectively. The expression of CD1a(+) DCs in the 111 specimens of glottic squamous cell carcinoma and 17 specimens of non-tumor tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. Correlations of CD1a(+) DCs to pathologic degree, T stage, local recurrence, and prognosis of glottic squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed.
Results: Positive rates of CD1a(+) DCs were 59.46% in glottic squamous cell carcinoma tissues, and 0 in non-tumor tissues; it was significantly higher in well-differentiated group than in moderately-and poorly-differentiated group [71.43% (55/77) vs. 28.57% (11/34), P<0.05], higher in T1-T2 group than in T3-T4 group [67.16% (45/67) vs. 47.73% (21/44), P<0.05], and higher in non-recurrence group than in local recurrence group [65.06% (54/83) vs. 42.86% (12/28), P<0.05].
Conclusions: The lower pathologic degree and higher T stage of glottic squamous cell carcinoma, the lower expression of CD1a(+) DCs. The positive rate of CD1a(+) DCs is low in recurrent glottic tumor. High expression of CD1a(+) DCs may indicate better prognosis of glottic squamous cell carcinoma.