The prognostic role of single cell invasion and nuclear diameter in early oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Alhadi Almangush,
Jaana Hagström,
Caj Haglund,
Luiz Paulo Kowalski,
Ricardo D. Coletta,
Antti A. Mäkitie,
Tuula Salo,
Ilmo Leivo
Affiliations
Alhadi Almangush
Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki
Jaana Hagström
Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki
Caj Haglund
Research Programs Unit, Translational Cancer Medicine, University of Helsinki
Luiz Paulo Kowalski
Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Sao Paulo Medical School
Ricardo D. Coletta
Department of Oral Diagnosis and Graduate Program in Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas
Antti A. Mäkitie
Research Program in Systems Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki
Tuula Salo
Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki
Ilmo Leivo
Institute of Biomedicine, Pathology, University of Turku, Turku University Central Hospital
Abstract Background The clinical significance of single cell invasion and large nuclear diameter is not well documented in early-stage oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). Methods We used hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections to evaluate the presence of single cell invasion and large nuclei in a multicenter cohort of 311 cases treated for early-stage OTSCC. Results Single cell invasion was associated in multivariable analysis with poor disease-specific survival (DSS) with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.089 (95% CI 1.224–3.566, P = 0.007), as well as with disease-free survival (DFS) with a HR of 1.666 (95% CI 1.080–2.571, P = 0.021). Furthermore, large nuclei were associated with worse DSS (HR 2.070, 95% CI 1.216–3.523, P = 0.007) and with DFS in multivariable analysis (HR 1.645, 95% CI 1.067–2.538, P = 0.024). Conclusion Single cell invasion and large nuclei can be utilized for classifying early OTSCC into risk groups.
