RCAS1 and B7H4 antigens immunoreactivity in squamous cell carcinoma of palatine tonsils and cancer microenvironment

B7-H4 protein has been demonstrated to be over-expressed by various types of cancer cells. The level of expression of B7-H4 in these cancers is related to the type of cancer, its stage, and the number of Treg cells, and correlates with patient survival and might be a new therapeutic target. The major role of RCAS1 expression is to inhibit activated immune cells, such as T and B lymphocytes and NK cells, and to induce their apoptosis. It has also been postulated that RCAS1 is involved in the remodelling of the tumour microenvironment. The aim of the present study has been to evaluate RCAS1- and B7-H4-antigen immunoreactivity in squamous cell carcinoma of the palatine tonsils and in the cancer microenvironment. For our study, we recruited 30 patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma originating from the palatine tonsils.