Langerhans cell number is a strong and independent prognostic factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

A decreased peritumoral CD1a+ cell number predicts a worse prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…In this study, we found that peritumoral depletion of CD1a+ cells was an independent factor that was significantly associated with overall survival and risk of recurrence. Similar findings were made in a study performed by Kindt et al ., which demonstrated that the number of LCs is a strong and independent prognostic marker for HNSCC patients in terms of recurrence when this number is evaluated in the intratumoral and peritumoral compartments, and in terms of overall survival when it is evaluated in the peritumoral compartment. Goldman et al .…”

“…Several researchers have been investigating the distribution of LCs in HNSCC; however, the current data are controversial . Whereas some authors have found an increased number of LCs, others have found a reduced number of LCs . However, most investigators concluded that there was significant depletion of these cells in tumours as compared with non‐malignant or surrounding tissues …”

“…17,27 Whereas some authors 28 have found an increased number of LCs, others have found a reduced number of LCs. 29,30 However, most investigators concluded that there was significant depletion of these cells in tumours as compared with nonmalignant or surrounding tissues. 17,18,27 Two studies of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas demonstrated that a high level of DC infiltration was associated with longer disease-free survival.…”

Different methods of cell quantification can lead to different results: a comparison of digital methods using a pilot study of dendritic cells in HIV-positive patients

“…Unlike the conventional method (UA method), the novel SA method avoids non-target areas included in the hotspots improving the reliability and reproducibility of the cell quantification. The cell quantification methods in the literature are heterogeneous in several aspects: the evaluation of different numbers of sequential/randomly fields (23,24,(27)(28)(29) or the selection of positive cells hotspots (25); the use of different magnifications as counting areas (28,29) or the use of previously stipulated areas size (23,25); the use of the total number of cells (24,29) or the average of the evaluated fields (25). In addition, some studies that used manual methods reported the use of a reticulated square for the counting aid (23,27).…”

Distribution of Dendritic Cells in AIDS-Associated Oral Kaposi’s Sarcoma

“…There is a growing number of evidences supporting the hypothesis that different subtypes of DC play important roles in the immunosurveillance against neoplastic cells and that the distribution and/or the regular function of these cellular populations are altered in many human tumors including oral cancer, lip cancer, mycosis fungoids, cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, and others (8)(9)(10)(11). Moreover, different authors have attributed a significant prognostic importance for DC in several of these malignant neoplasms (12,13), speculating that changes in these cells would not only predispose to neoplastic development, but it would also represent potential therapeutic targets for future chemotherapy schemes.…”