Correlations between histopathological and biological findings in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its prognostic significance

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Abstract
Forty-five consecutive cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were morphologically and immunocyto-chemically studied using monoclonal (anti-B and anti-T cell) and polyclonal (anti-SlOO protein and antilysozyme) antibodies with the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase method to identify infiltrating lymphocytes (T and B cell) and histiocytes (monocytic/mac-rophagic and dendritic cells) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A variable density of dendritic cells was found within the tumor nests in 22 (49%) of 45 nasopharyngeal carcinomas examined; infiltrating mac-rophages were demonstrated in 15 (33%) specimens and around the tumor in almost all cases. Cases with moderate or marked density of dendritic cells (S100 + ) survived longer than those without such infiltration (mean 5-year survival rates of 31%, 55%, or 64% in patients with absent, moderate, or marked densities, respectively; Pet al.; World Health Organization; Cologne University) to individualize the scheme which correlates best with prognosis and biological features of nasopharyngeal carcinomas. Our data suggest that, considering dendritic cells and macrophages within cancer nests, nasopharyngeal carcinoma histiotypes can be correlated to patient prognosis.