Introduction:Cancer-associated
fibroblasts (CAFs) from the tumor microenvironment (TME) play an
important role in the progression, recurrence and poor prognosis of
OSCC.
The aim: To determine the density of CAFs in the tumorstroma (TS)
of OSCC, and to determine the association of the density of CAFs with
clinico-pathological parameters and disease relapse in patients with
OSCC.
Materials and methods: Immunohistochemical staining of tissue
samples from primary OSCC was performed in 45 patients operated at the
University Clinic for Maxillofacial Surgery, in Skopje, North Macedonia.
A mouse primary monoclonal antibody: anti-α-SMA was used to visualize
CAFs. The density of CAFs α-SMA+ was grouped into 4 grades, and the
obtained data were statistically analyzed.
Results: The presence of CAFs was not determined in tissue
samples from all patients with OSCC. There is a significant association
of the density of CAFs in the primary tumor with T, N and TNM-status,
respectively (p=0.0006, p=0.0255, p=0.0164).
The Difference test determined that only in case of disease relapse in
the form of local recurrence, the percentage representation of patients
with CAFs present was significantly higher compared to patients who did
not have CAFs (p=0.0001).
Conclusions: These findings are suggestive of the role of CAFs in
disease progression, but are insufficient to be included as a parameter
in a standardized histopathological finding.
Key words: tumor microenvironment (TME), α-SMA-positive carcinoma associated fibroblasts (CAFs α-SMA+), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)
Address of correspondence:
Assistant Professor Sanela Pepić, DMD, PhD
University clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery, Skopje,
North Macedonia
E-mail: 
sanela@dr.com
Phone:+38970289525
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Stomatologica Naissi