Multi-factor Evaluation of Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and its Prognostic Value

Abstract Background: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a heterogeneous disease. In clinical practice, patients with similar clinicopathological characteristics often show different outcomes. This study evaluated the levels of primary LSCC intratumoral infiltrating lymphocytes (iTILs), tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte volume (TILV), frontier tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (fTILs), and their relations to the patient's clinical outcome. Materials and methods: According to the 2017 study of the International TILs Working Group, hematoxyline and eosin-stained slides from 412 patients were evaluated for their morphology of tumor immune infiltration status.Results: Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that high levels of iTILs, TILV, and fTILs were significantly correlated with OS (all P<0.05). Cox regression model analysis showed that high levels of iTILs, TILV, and fTILs were independently associated with better OS (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Local inflammatory markers in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, especially the levels of iTILs, TILV, and fTILs, are reliable prognostic factors.