Reduced Epithelial CD1a+ Langerhans Cell Density Is Associated with Advanced Stage and Nodal Positivity in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Cross-Sectional Immunohistochemical Study

Background/Objectives: Chronic inflammation is increasingly recognized as a driver of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) progression, but the interplay between local immune surveillance and angiolymphatic remodeling remains incompletely characterized. We hypothesized that advanced HNSCC stage would be associated with lower epithelial CD1a+ Langerhans cell density alongside higher proliferation, reduced E-cadherin-mediated adhesion, and higher angiogenic/lymphangiogenic activity, and aimed to relate this marker pattern to tumor stage defined by combined histopathological and radiological criteria.