Peritumoral infiltrate in the prognosis of epidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity.

Introduction: Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity present deficits in their cellular immunity that contribute to neoplastic growth. Thus, the inflammatory activity, such as the immunological response to the tumor, can be used as a prognostic factor.

Objectives: To evaluate the correlation between peritumoral inflammation and clinical characteristics of the patients, survival, and the disease-free interval.

Methods: The study sample consisted of a retrospective hospital-based cohort of patients undergoing surgery for resection of oral cavity tumor. The inflammatory infiltrate on the slides was evaluated semi-quantitatively, and were divided into minor and major inflammatory processes.

Results: This study included 57 tumor samples, with infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and histiocytes. The log-rank test showed no significance for the survival curves and recurrence of the "minor inflammatory" and "major inflammatory" processes, with p=0.14 and p=0.24, respectively. A direct association between age and inflammation (p=0.04) was observed, as well as an indirect association between the degree of tumor differentiation and inflammation (p=0.01).

Conclusion: Although associated with histological differentiation, the peritumoral inflammatory process cannot be considered a prognostic factor in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, as it is not related to survival and disease-free interval.