Tumor budding – prognostic factor in salivary gland carcinoma?

Introduction Tumor budding reflects a detachment of single tumor cells or buds at the tumor invasion front. The tumor budding cells display a strikingly different architecture than the cells of the main tumor. The negative prognostic influence of an increased number of tumor buds is described for colorectal carcinoma. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of tumor budding in salivary gland carcinoma.

Methods Retrospective examination of histopathologic specimen of patients with salivary gland carcinoma (diagnosis 2003-2018). Counting of tumor buds / mm² and classification depending on the median number of tumor buds.

Results After qualitative analysis of the histopathologic specimen 105 patients were included in the study. 53 patients were male, the most common tumor entity was adeno carcinoma (n = 23). All UICC stages were distributed equally. The median number of tumor buds was 5 / mm². Patients with a higher number of tumor buds showed a worse overall survival (p = 0.032). Higher tumor stages were associated with more tumor buds (p = 0.014). Patients with cervical lymph node metastases also showed more tumor buds (p = 0.001).

Discussion A higher number of tumor buds is associated with shorter overall survival, higher tumor stage and a higher rate of cervical lymph node metastases. Tumor budding should be considered as an additional risk factor in salivary gland carcinoma to identify more aggressive tumors.

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Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020