Differential expression of PD-L1, PD-L2 and inflammasome related proteins (NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1) in oral squamous cell carcinoma, lymph node metastases, and benign lesions.

This study investigates the expression of immune checkpoint proteins (PD-L1 and PD-L2) and inflammasome components (NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1) in oral lesions, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), metastases, leukoplakia, and benign conditions. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on tissue samples from 151 patients to evaluate expression patterns and assess their diagnostic and prognostic potential. PD-L1 and PD-L2 were significantly overexpressed in SCC and metastases compared to benign lesions with IRS factor (immunoreactive score) (p = 0.003) and (p = 0.000002), indicating their roles in immune evasion and tumor progression. NLRP3 and ASC demonstrated associations with inflammation-driven carcinogenesis, with variations linked to tumor localization. However, none of the biomarkers showed significant prognostic value for disease progression. These findings highlight the potential diagnostic utility of these proteins while underscoring the need for further research to establish reliable clinical biomarkers in oral SCC.