Tumour budding-based grading as independent prognostic biomarker in HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck cancer.
Br J Cancer
; 128(12): 2295-2306, 2023 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37045906
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The prognostic significance of tumour budding (TB) and minimal cell nest size (MCNS) was shown in human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). However, the optimisation of cutpoints, the prognostic impact in HPV-positive HNSCC, and the comparison with other histopathological grading systems are insufficiently investigated.METHODS:
TB and MCNS were analysed digitally in 1 and 10 high-power fields (HPF) of 331 HPV-positive and HPV-negative cases from TCGA. Optimising the cutpoints a new cellular dissociation grading (CDG) system was defined and compared to the WHO grading and the Brandwein-Gensler (BG) risk model.RESULTS:
The two-tiered CDG system based solely on TB yielded optimal prognostic stratification with shortened overall survival for CDG-high cases. Optimal cut-offs were two buds (1 HPF) and six buds (10 HPF), respectively. Analysing MCNS did not add prognostic significance to quantifying TB. CDG was a significant prognostic marker in HPV-negative and HPV-positive tumours and prognostically superior to the WHO and BG systems. High CDG was associated with clinically occult lymph-node metastases.CONCLUSIONS:
The most comprehensive study of TB in HNSCC so far confirmed its prognostic impact in HPV-negative tumours and for the first time in HPV-positive tumours. Further studies are warranted to evaluate its applicability for therapy guidance in HNSCC.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
/
Papillomavirus Infections
/
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Type of study:
Guideline
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Br J Cancer
Year:
2023
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Germany