Advances of Tertiary Lymphoid Structures in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma:From Basic Features to Clinical Implications

VernacularTitle:三级淋巴结构在口腔鳞状细胞癌中的研究进展:从基础特征到临床意义
Author: Xiaoqing HAN ¹ ; Da SHEN ; Jiwei SUN
Author Information

1. 华中科技大学同济医学院口腔医学院,武汉 430030
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: tertiary lymphoid structure; squamous cell carcinoma; immunotherapy; tumor microenvironment; oral neoplasm
From: Acta Medicinae Universitatis Scientiae et Technologiae Huazhong 2025;54(4):579-586
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Tertiary lymphoid structure(TLS)is ectopic lymphoid-like organs induced under pathological conditions such as chronic inflammation and tumor microenvironment,which exhibits functional characteristics similar to secondary lymphoid or-gans and is commonly observed in various cancers.This review focuses on the biological characteristics of TLS in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC),summarizing their components,formation mechanisms,and maturation stages within the tumor microen-vironment.It systematically analyzes the interrelationships between TLS features,including maturation levels,spatial distribu-tion,and cellular composition,and the progression and prognosis of OSCC.The review highlights the bidirectional interactions between TLS and microbial colonization in OSCC,as well as the impact of TLS on the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and their potential predictive value for treatment responses.