Cellular morphometry of the neoplastic microenvironment and its association with the immunoexpression of interleukin-4.

The objective of this research is to perform a cellular morphometric analysis, identify nuclear malignant keratinocyte irregularities, compare the immunoexpression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and investigate neoplastic invasion depth in Lower Lip Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LLSCC) and Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OTSCC) cases. A total of 60 cases were analyzed (30 on the lower lip and 30 on the oral tongue). Concerning the cellular morphometry analysis, 16 malignant keratinocytes from each case were analyzed. IL-4 immunoexpression was analyzed in the parenchyma and stroma of the investigated lesions, in both deep and superficial fields, employing an image analysis software. ANOVA and Spearman's correlation statistical tests were applied. Total IL-4 immunoexpression was higher in LLSCC cases in all analyzed fields (p: 0.007); Positive correlation between the cellular perimeter of malignant keratinocytes in the superficial fields and lesion invasion depth was observed (p: 0.009), as well as between the total cellular area and neoplastic invasion depth (p: 0.038). A negative correlation, on the other hand, was observed between superficial lesion parenchyma IL-4 immunoexpression and nuclear perimeter in superficial fields (p: 0.007), as well as between total deep stroma IL-4 immunoexpression and neoplastic invasion depth (p: 0.008). These findings suggest that SCC displaying greater neoplastic invasion depth exhibit greater nuclear and cellular morphology alterations, albeit reducing IL-4 expression, potentially due to loss of the differentiated cell phenotype.