Table 3 Correlation between TRAIL/TRAIL-R expression patterns and apoptosis rates of tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes within primary oral squamous cell carcinomas

TRAIL/TRAIL-R

LI_CASP-TU Mean ± SEM

LI_CASP-LY Mean ± SEM

Focally positive tumors (n = 31; 73%)

3.43 ± 0.5

5.95 ± 0.74

Negative tumors (n = 11; 27%)

3.20 ± 0.83

10.91 ± 2.9

P value

0.818

0.145

DR4

High expressors (IHC score > 2; n = 28; 67%)

2.89 ± 0.47

5.80 ± 0.8

Low expressors (IHC score < 2; n = 14; 33%)

4.4 ± 0. 93

9.24 ± 2.2

P value

0.11

0.07

DR5

High expressors (IHC score > 2; n = 9; 21%)

2.4 ± 0.57

7.4 ± 3.01

Low expressors (IHC score < 2; n = 33; 79%)

3.61 ± 0.51

6.73 ± 0.81

P value

0.24

0.75

DcR1

High expressors (IHC score > 2; n = 36; 86%)

3.55 ± 0.48

6.56 ± 0.77

Low expressors (IHC score < 2; n = 6; 14%)

3.53 ± 1.32

8.2 ± 3.4

P value

0.99

0.48

DcR2

High expressors (IHC score > 2; n = 1; 2%)

12.2

20.2

Low expressors (IHC score < 2; n = 41; 98%)

3.15 ± 0.37

6.5± 0.78

P value

N/A

N/A

Histology

Conventional squamous cell carcinoma (n = 33)

2.67 ± 0.62

2.67 ± 0.62

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (n = 9)

3.62 ± 0.51

11.27 ± 2.21

P value

0.36

0.013