Study on the correlation between the expression of Porphyromonas gingivalis, tumor-associated macrophages and the clinical prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

doi:10.19439/j.sjos.2025.02.004

Abstract

Abstract: PURPOSE: To explore the immunoexpression and clinical significance regarding Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) in the tumor microenvironment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). METHODS: A total of 200 OSCC patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between June 2008 and June 2020 were divided into P.gingivalis-strong-expression group(n=139) and P. gingivalis-weak-expression group (n=61), based on the immunohistochemical(IHC) staining. The detection of DOK3 and TAM was performed to quantify their expression level in two groups, respectively. The associations between the three mentioned biomarkers and clinicopathologic indicators were compared between the two groups, and the impact on patients' prognosis was also analyzed. R 4.2.2 software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Death, late-stage cancer, T3-T4 and N(+) stage, large size (≥3 cm), moderate and poor differentiation, and recurrence exhibited significant associations with strong immunoexpression of P. gingivalis(P<0.05). Several variables of OSCC patients with strong immunoexpression of P. gingivalis including age, survival status, T and N stage, recurrence exhibited significant associations with strong immunoexpression of DOK3 (P<0.05); whereas T stage, clinical stage and tumor differentiation exhibited significant associations with strong immunoexpression of TAM (P<0.05). Additionally, the immunoexpression of P. gingivalis was positively associated with the immunoexpression of DOK3 and TAM(P<0.01). The prognosis of OSCC patients with strong positive expression of P. gingivalis, DOK3 and TAM was worse than that of patients with weak immunoexpression, respectively(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: P. gingivalis is positively correlated with DOK3 and TAM. In addition, the strong immunoexpression levels of P. gingivalis, DOK3 and tumor-associated macrophage are associated with poor prognosis in patients with OSCC. Collectively, the mentioned three biomarkers can be considered as important indicators for evaluating clinical prognosis.

Key words: Oral squamous cell carcinoma, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Immune microenvironment, Tumor-associated macrophage, Clinical prognosis

CLC Number:

R739.8

Li Muqiu, Li Chenxi, Wei Wei, Chen Cheng, Wang Bing, Gong Zhongcheng, Guo Wei, Ren Guoxin. Study on the correlation between the expression of Porphyromonas gingivalis, tumor-associated macrophages and the clinical prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma[J]. Shanghai Journal of Stomatology, 2025, 34(2): 132-138.

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