Prognostic implication of CD57, CD16, and TGF-β expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells are important immune effector cells against tumors especially in the absence or reducing MHC class I antigen. Downregulation of CD16 receptor is accompanied by decreasing NK cell-killing activity. It has also been shown that some of tumor cells can evade from immune system through producing transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and affect prognosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of CD57⁺ and CD16⁺ cells and TGF-β expression in samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods: CD57, CD16, and TGF-β expressions were examined immunohistochemically in 57 cases of OSCC. The relationship between markers' expression and clinicopathologic data using bivariate and multivariate analysis was assessed. Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that CD57 expression [HR 17.34 (95% CI 3.815-78.830); P < 0.001] and mode of invasion [HR 0.362 (95% CI 0.138-0.947); P = 0.038] correlated with survival rate, but no relation between CD57 expression and mode of invasion was seen (P = 0.96). Furthermore, no correlation between CD57, CD16, and TGF-β expression was found. Conclusion: These findings suggest that CD57 expression and mode of invasion are independent prognostic factors of survival in OSCC patients.