Characterization of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma arising in young patients: Particular focus on molecular alteration and tumor immunity

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to comprehensively characterize head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) arising in young patients (<45 years old).

Methods

We performed immunohistochemistry, silver, and fluorescence in situ hybridization using samples obtained from 396 radically resected cases among 1787 HNSCCs.

Results

Young age HNSCCs occurred in 10.9% (194/1787) and were most common in the oral tongue (50.5%). They revealed distinctively lower frequency of p16 positivity, high c‐MET expression, MET copy number gain, and lower pan‐Trk expression. PD‐L1 positivity in tumor cells and ICOS+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were higher in the young age. Perineural invasion, PD‐L1 positivity, and higher ratio of CD163+ tumor infiltrating macrophages to CD8 + TILs were determined to be independent factors for poor progression‐free survival.

Conclusion

Characterizing these features of young age HNSCC may help to identify the underlying pathogenesis and to improve patient outcome through different treatment strategies.

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