Open Access

Prognostic effect of programmed cell death ligand 1/programmed cell death 1 expression in cancer stem cells of human oral squamous cell carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Keita Todoroki
    • Yushi Abe
    • Katsuhisa Matsuo
    • Hidetoshi Nomura
    • Akihiko Kawahara
    • Yoshiaki Nakamura
    • Moriyoshi Nakamura
    • Naoko Seki
    • Jingo Kusukawa
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 4, 2024     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2024.14213
  • Article Number: 79
  • Copyright: © Todoroki et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

The relationship between cancer stem cells (CSCs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD‑L1)/programmed cell death 1 (PD‑1) remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to clarify the association between the CD44v3high/CD24low immunophenotype of CSCs in OSCC and PD‑L1/PD‑1 co‑expression, and to assess the prognostic effect of CSCs in terms of immune checkpoint molecules. Formalin‑fixed, paraffin‑embedded tissue samples and clinicopathological data from 168 patients with OSCC were retrospectively retrieved. Immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction were applied to a tissue microarray of the invasive front of each case. Semi‑automated cell counting was used to assess CD44v3, CD24, PD‑L1 and PD‑1 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using a digital image analysis program. Associations between immunological markers and clinicopathological variables were estimated. Patients with the CSC immunophenotype CD44v3high/CD24low, and patients with a high PD‑L1/PD‑1‑positive cell density in the tumor parenchyma and stroma had significantly lower survival rates. Furthermore, patients with the CSC immunophenotype (CD44v3high/CD24low) and high PD‑L1/PD‑1 co‑expression had even lower survival rates (P<0.01, log‑rank test). Notably, there was a positive correlation between CD44v3 and PD‑L1 expression (τ=0.1096, P=0.0366, Kendall rank correlation coefficient) and a negative correlation between CD24 and PD‑1 expression (τ=‑0.1387, P=0.0089, Kendall rank correlation coefficient). Additionally, the high CD44v3 expression group, as determined by IHC, exhibited significantly decreased expression of U2 small nuclear RNA auxiliary factor 1 (U2AF1) at the mRNA level compared with that in the low CD44v3 expression group (P<0.001, Mann‑Whitney U test), and U2AF1 and PD‑L1 mRNA expression exhibited a significant negative correlation (τ=‑0.3948, P<0.001, Kendall rank correlation coefficient). In conclusion, CSCs in OSCC may evade host immune mechanisms and maintain CSC stemness via PD‑L1/PD‑1 co‑expression, resulting in unfavorable clinical outcomes.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

February-2024
Volume 27 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Todoroki K, Abe Y, Matsuo K, Nomura H, Kawahara A, Nakamura Y, Nakamura M, Seki N and Kusukawa J: Prognostic effect of programmed cell death ligand 1/programmed cell death 1 expression in cancer stem cells of human oral squamous cell carcinoma. Oncol Lett 27: 79, 2024.
APA
Todoroki, K., Abe, Y., Matsuo, K., Nomura, H., Kawahara, A., Nakamura, Y. ... Kusukawa, J. (2024). Prognostic effect of programmed cell death ligand 1/programmed cell death 1 expression in cancer stem cells of human oral squamous cell carcinoma. Oncology Letters, 27, 79. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2024.14213
MLA
Todoroki, K., Abe, Y., Matsuo, K., Nomura, H., Kawahara, A., Nakamura, Y., Nakamura, M., Seki, N., Kusukawa, J."Prognostic effect of programmed cell death ligand 1/programmed cell death 1 expression in cancer stem cells of human oral squamous cell carcinoma". Oncology Letters 27.2 (2024): 79.
Chicago
Todoroki, K., Abe, Y., Matsuo, K., Nomura, H., Kawahara, A., Nakamura, Y., Nakamura, M., Seki, N., Kusukawa, J."Prognostic effect of programmed cell death ligand 1/programmed cell death 1 expression in cancer stem cells of human oral squamous cell carcinoma". Oncology Letters 27, no. 2 (2024): 79. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2024.14213