Clinical Implications of Tumor-Associated Tissue Eosinophilia in Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The role of tumor-associated tissue eosinophilia (TATE) in oral cavity cancer remains quite controversial. This study investigated the potential role of TATE in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC).

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series.

METHODS: This study retrospectively enrolled 259 consecutive TSCC patients who underwent surgery between July 2004 and December 2015. Histopathological examinations for TATE in TSCC tumors were reviewed, and the association of TATE with different clinicopathological factors was evaluated. A nomogram was generated based on several major clinicopathological factors and TATE to improve the accuracy of prognostic prediction.

RESULTS: Higher levels of TATE were significantly associated with male sex, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, higher pT classification, advanced disease stage, and tumor depth (P = .006, .003, .024, .041, .013 and .006, respectively). Our results indicated that extranodal extension, cell differentiation, and TATE were independent predictors of overall survival (P < .001, .004, and .032, respectively) and disease-free survival (P < .001, .012, and .013, respectively). TATE levels significantly correlated with circulating eosinophils (r = 0.139, P = .040), and the c-index of our nomogram foroverall survival was 0.786, which demonstrates better accuracy in prognosis prediction than the TNM stage only (c-index = 0.738).

CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of TATE were associated with several clinicopathological factors and poorer survival rates, and a nomogram incorporating TATE levels may strengthen the prediction accuracy of prognosis in TSCC patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.