J Pathol Transl Med.  2019 Nov;53(6):369-377. 10.4132/jptm.2019.09.16.

Comparison of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue between Young and Old Patients

• Choi G
• Song JS
• Choi SH
• Nam SY
• Kim SY
• Roh JL
• Lee BK
• Cho KJ

• KMID: 2465436
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2019.09.16

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The worldwide incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (SCCOT) in young patients has been increasing. We investigated clinicopathologic features of this unique population and compared them with those of SCCOT in the elderly to delineate its pathogenesis.
METHODS
We compared clinicopathological parameters between patients under and over 45 years old. Immunohistochemical assays of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, androgen receptor, p53, p16, mdm2, cyclin D1, and glutathione S-transferase P1 were also compared between them.
RESULTS
Among 189 cases, 51 patients (27.0%) were under 45 years of age. A higher proportion of women was seen in the young group, but was not statistically significant. Smoking and drinking behaviors between age groups were similar. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis showed no significant difference by age and sex other than higher histologic grades observed in young patients.
CONCLUSIONS
SCCOT in young adults has similar clinicopathological features to that in the elderly, suggesting that both progress via similar pathogenetic pathways.

Keyword

Mouth neoplasms; Young adult; Smoking; Drinking; Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Aged
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
Cyclin D1
Drinking
Drinking Behavior
Epithelial Cells*
Estrogens
Female
Glutathione Transferase
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Incidence
Mouth Neoplasms
Receptors, Androgen
Receptors, Progesterone
Smoke
Smoking
Tongue*
Young Adult
Cyclin D1
Estrogens
Glutathione Transferase
Receptors, Androgen
Receptors, Progesterone
Smoke

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Kaplan-Meier estimation of overall survival and disease-free survival curves for age and sex. Neither overall survival (A–C) nor disease-free survival (D–F) was significantly associated with age or sex.

• 

  Fig. 2. Examples of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) scores and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Each tumor was given a TIL group depending upon the amount of stromal lymphocytic infiltration. Images represents low (A), intermediate (B), and high (C) group. Higher TIL groups were associated with better overall survival (D) and disease-free survival (E).

• 

  Fig. 3. Immunohistochemistry for cyclin D1 and Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Tumor cells showing strong (A) or weak (B) nuclear expression of cyclin D1. Strong expression of cyclin D1 correlated with poor overall survival (C).

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