The purpose of this study was to investigate the local immune response to 80 Stage I and II oral squamous cell carcinomas by immunohistochemical examination of the expression of human leukocyte antigen- (HLA) DR and T-lymphocyte infiltration.
The results were as follows :
1. The expression of HLA-DR antigen was detected in 21 of the 80 cases (26%) of oral squamous cell carcinomas (stage I and II) .
2. The expression of HLA-DR antigen was frequently detected in tongue squamous cell carcinoma.
3. The expression of HLA-DR antigen was significantly more common in well-differentiated types than in moderately differentiated types.
4. Tumor invasive tendency significantly correlated with the expression of HLA-DR antigen.
5. The expression of HLA-DR antigen correlated with infiltrating lymphocytes in tumor tissues.
6. The expression of HLA-DR antigen had a correlation with a 5-year survival rate but not with significant recurrence or delayed metastasis in lymph nodes.
7. These results suggested that the expression of HLA-DR antigen in oral squamous cell carcinomas was correlated with the local immune response.
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