TIM‐3/Galectin‐9 and CD160 expression in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

Abstract

ObjectiveInvestigating T‐cell immunoglobulin and mucin‐domain containing‐3 (TIM‐3), Galectin 9 (Gal‐9), CD160 expression and tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and correlation with clinicopathological characteristics of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC).MethodsSixty cases of SACC were detected by immunohistochemical staining to evaluate TIM‐3, Gal‐9, and CD160 expression and analyze the correlation between TIM‐3, Gal‐9, CD160 expression and clinicopathologic features by rank‐sum test. The association of TILs with TIM‐3, Gal‐9, and CD160 expression in SACC stromal was done by Chi‐square test.ResultsTIM‐3 and CD160 overexpression were correlated with recurrence of SACC (p = 0.029, p = 0.007, respectively). High Gal‐9 expression was correlated with pathological classification (p = 0.018). The average percentage of TILs was 18.2% in SACC and most of TILs were more likely to occur in minor salivary glands (p = 0.038). Pairwise positive correlations were observed between the expression of TIM‐3, Gal‐9, and CD160 in tumor cells as well as in TILs, respectively.ConclusionLow density of TILs was characteristic of the SACC microenvironment, with upregulation of TIM‐3, Gal‐9, and CD160 all occurring. However, TIM‐3, Gal‐9, and CD160 expression in the stromal dependent on the number of TILs represent potential therapeutic targets in SACC.