Background and objectives: Tumor epithelial cells can only prosper in aberrant microenvironmental conditions composed of altered extracellular matrix and various stromal cells including fibroblasts, macrophages, and endothelial cells. These cells play a pivotal role in cancer initiation and progression in parallel with cancer cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in stromal cells in tumor microenvironment of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Method: Thirty-six archival OED and 83 archival OSCC cases were used in this study. Immunohistochemistry was performed for α-SMA, CD31 and CD163. Macrophage and Fibroblasts count was performed manually. Microvessel density (MVD) was also determined morphologically.
Results: In different types of epithelial dysplasia (mild, moderate and severe), the number of stromal cell that express α-SMA, CD31 and CD163 was increased from mild to severe epithelial dysplasia. As well, in different variants of oral squamous cell carcinoma (well, moderate & poorly), there was significant difference in stromal cells that express α-SMA, CD31 and CD163. Conclusion: These findings reveal that changes in stromal cell beneath oral epithelial dysplasia and in OSCC stroma might play a potential regulatory role in OSCC invasion as well as progression.