KIR2DS4, KIR2DL2, and KIR2DS4del are linked with basaloid tumors, lymph node metastasis, advanced stage and metastatic risk in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Backgrounds: Our previous study has suggested that KIR2DS1, 2DS5, 3DS1 and KIR2DL5 are associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) development. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the possible association of killer cell immunoglobulin like receptors (KIRs) gene with the clinicopathological features of patients.

Methods: We reviewed the pathological reports of 285 pathologically confirmed cases of HNSCC and analyzed the association of KIR system with pathological characteristics.

Results: A significant increase was demonstrated in the carrier frequency of KIR2DS4 in conventional than basaloid type and a higher frequency of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in carriers of KIR2DL2 and individuals possess 5 inhibitory KIRs (iKIRs). We also observed a higher proportion of patients with advanced stage of HNSCC in carriers of KIR2DL2 and deleted variant of KIR2DS4.

Conclusion: In HNSCC, KIR2DL2 is positively while KIR2DS4 is negatively associated with advanced stage. The higher proportion of LNM in carriers of KIR2DL2 and carriers of 5 iKIRs, suggested that inhibitory KIRs are associated with metastatic risk.