Tumor Microenvironment‐Based Risk Stratification of Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

BackgroundEvaluation of the prognostic impact of tumor microenvironment (TME) has received attention in recent years. We introduce a TME‐based risk stratification for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).Material and MethodsA total of 182 patients treated for OPSCC at the Helsinki University Hospital were included. TME‐based risk stratification was designed combining tumor‐stroma ratio and stromal tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes assessed in hematoxylin and eosin‐stained sections.ResultsIn multivariable analysis, TME‐based risk stratification associated with poor disease‐free survival with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.68 (95% CI 1.11–6.48, p = 0.029). In addition, the proposed risk stratification was associated with poor disease‐specific survival (HR 2.687, 95% CI 1.28–5.66, p = 0.009) and poor overall survival (HR 2.21, 95% CI 1.23–3.99, p = 0.008).ConclusionOur TME‐based risk stratification provides a powerful prognostic tool that can be used in daily treatment planning of OPSCC together with tumor‐related prognostic markers.