Peritumoral CD1a-positive dendritic cells are associated with improved survival in patients with tongue carcinoma

Objectives: To determine if survival and recurrence rates for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue correlate with the degree of dendritic cell (DC) infiltration of the primary tumor or adjacent tongue tissue and if there is an association between tumor or nodal stage and DC infiltration. Design: Hospital and office medical records were reviewed to obtain 5-year follow-up data. Original pathology specimens were recut and stained for the cell surface markers S100 and CD1a. The number of DCs present in the specimens was quantified microscopically and compared statistically with patient outcome and staging. Setting: A university hospital. Patients: All patients who underwent resection of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue from January 1, 1987, through December 31, 1990, for whom 5-year follow-up data and original pathology specimens were available (N=43). Main Outcome Measures: Time to recurrence, death, or both. Results: Patients who had greater numbers of CD1a-positive DCs adjacent to tumor had improved survival (P=.02) and decreased recurrence rates (P=.06). The other subpopulations of DCs examined were not associated with survival or recurrence. In addition, the number of CD1a-positive DCs in peritumoral epithelium decreased as the tumor stage increased (P=.01) and if nodal metastases were present (P=.05). Conclusions: Dendritic cells are antigen- presenting cells that are thought to play a major role in the antitumor immune response. The CD1a surface antigen has been shown to mediate T-cell interactions. The association between CD1a-positive peritumoral DCs and patient outcome suggests an important function for this cell population.