Prognostic Value of the Immunohistochemical Detection of Cellular Components of the Tumor Microenvironment in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

This study aims to investigate the prognostic impact of cellular components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), analyzed through immunohistochemistry, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This review was conducted following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews a...

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Main Authors: Hannah Gil de Farias Morais, Caroline Fernandes da Costa, Maurília Raquel de Souto Medeiros, Bárbara de Assis Araújo, Everton Freitas de Morais, Ricardo D. Coletta, Roseana de Almeida Freitas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Current Issues in Molecular Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/7/544
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author Hannah Gil de Farias Morais
Caroline Fernandes da Costa
Maurília Raquel de Souto Medeiros
Bárbara de Assis Araújo
Everton Freitas de Morais
Ricardo D. Coletta
Roseana de Almeida Freitas
author_facet Hannah Gil de Farias Morais
Caroline Fernandes da Costa
Maurília Raquel de Souto Medeiros
Bárbara de Assis Araújo
Everton Freitas de Morais
Ricardo D. Coletta
Roseana de Almeida Freitas
author_sort Hannah Gil de Farias Morais
collection DOAJ
description This study aims to investigate the prognostic impact of cellular components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), analyzed through immunohistochemistry, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This review was conducted following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Searches were performed in EMBASE, Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Collaboration Library, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar. After applying the study criteria, 59 articles were included, involving the analysis of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), immune cells, and endothelial cells. It was found that TME rich in α-SMA-positive CAFs, tumor-associated macrophages, and dendritic cells contribute to the invasion and progression of OSCC, resulting in a poorer prognosis. In contrast, the presence of high amounts of NK CD57<sup>+</sup> cells, CD8<sup>+</sup>/CD45RO<sup>+</sup> T cells, and PNAd<sup>+</sup> endothelial cells are associated with anti-tumor immune responses in OSCC and improved survival rates. CD3<sup>+</sup> and CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells, Treg cells, B cells, and mast cells have shown little to no evidence of prognostic utility. Several stromal components of TME were found to have a strong impact on the aggressiveness of OSCC, reaffirming the potential use of these biomarkers as prognostic tools and therapeutic targets.
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spelling doaj-art-296a241ef0bb43c49c3dc65c75c3505d2025-08-20T03:36:14ZengMDPI AGCurrent Issues in Molecular Biology1467-30371467-30452025-07-0147754410.3390/cimb47070544Prognostic Value of the Immunohistochemical Detection of Cellular Components of the Tumor Microenvironment in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic ReviewHannah Gil de Farias Morais0Caroline Fernandes da Costa1Maurília Raquel de Souto Medeiros2Bárbara de Assis Araújo3Everton Freitas de Morais4Ricardo D. Coletta5Roseana de Almeida Freitas6Department of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59056-000, RN, BrazilDepartment of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59056-000, RN, BrazilDepartment of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59056-000, RN, BrazilDepartment of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59056-000, RN, BrazilPiracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba 13414-903, SP, BrazilPiracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba 13414-903, SP, BrazilDepartment of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59056-000, RN, BrazilThis study aims to investigate the prognostic impact of cellular components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), analyzed through immunohistochemistry, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This review was conducted following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Searches were performed in EMBASE, Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Collaboration Library, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar. After applying the study criteria, 59 articles were included, involving the analysis of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), immune cells, and endothelial cells. It was found that TME rich in α-SMA-positive CAFs, tumor-associated macrophages, and dendritic cells contribute to the invasion and progression of OSCC, resulting in a poorer prognosis. In contrast, the presence of high amounts of NK CD57<sup>+</sup> cells, CD8<sup>+</sup>/CD45RO<sup>+</sup> T cells, and PNAd<sup>+</sup> endothelial cells are associated with anti-tumor immune responses in OSCC and improved survival rates. CD3<sup>+</sup> and CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells, Treg cells, B cells, and mast cells have shown little to no evidence of prognostic utility. Several stromal components of TME were found to have a strong impact on the aggressiveness of OSCC, reaffirming the potential use of these biomarkers as prognostic tools and therapeutic targets.https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/7/544oral squamous cell carcinomaoral cancertumor microenvironmentprognosisimmunohistochemistry
spellingShingle Hannah Gil de Farias Morais
Caroline Fernandes da Costa
Maurília Raquel de Souto Medeiros
Bárbara de Assis Araújo
Everton Freitas de Morais
Ricardo D. Coletta
Roseana de Almeida Freitas
Prognostic Value of the Immunohistochemical Detection of Cellular Components of the Tumor Microenvironment in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review
Current Issues in Molecular Biology
oral squamous cell carcinoma
oral cancer
tumor microenvironment
prognosis
immunohistochemistry
title Prognostic Value of the Immunohistochemical Detection of Cellular Components of the Tumor Microenvironment in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review
title_full Prognostic Value of the Immunohistochemical Detection of Cellular Components of the Tumor Microenvironment in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Prognostic Value of the Immunohistochemical Detection of Cellular Components of the Tumor Microenvironment in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Prognostic Value of the Immunohistochemical Detection of Cellular Components of the Tumor Microenvironment in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review
title_short Prognostic Value of the Immunohistochemical Detection of Cellular Components of the Tumor Microenvironment in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review
title_sort prognostic value of the immunohistochemical detection of cellular components of the tumor microenvironment in oral squamous cell carcinoma a systematic review
topic oral squamous cell carcinoma
oral cancer
tumor microenvironment
prognosis
immunohistochemistry
url https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/7/544
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