Table 2 Association of frequencies of T cell subsets in TDLNs of HNSCC cancer patients with prognostic indicators

CD4⁺ T

Higher frequency in nMLNs of tongue SCC, higher frequency in low stages

CD4⁺TNF-α⁺

Higher frequency in nMLNs of tongue SCC, higher frequency in low stages, higher frequency in tongue cancer patients with smaller tumor size

CD4⁺TNF-α^hi

higher frequency in nMLNs of tongue SCC, higher frequency in low stages, higher frequency in tongue cancer patients with smaller tumor size, negative correlation with tumor size

CD4⁺TNF-α^low

Higher frequency in nMLNs of tongue SCC

CD4⁺IFN-γ⁺

Higher gMFI of IFN-γ in tongue cancer patients with lymphatic/vascular invasion

CD4⁺IFN-γ⁺TNF-α⁻

Positive correlations with the number of involved LNs and tumor size higher frequency in advanced stages and in patients without tumor lymphatic/vascular invasion

CD4⁺IL-4⁺

Higher frequency in advanced stages and in tongue cancer patients with larger tumor size

CD4⁺TGF-β⁺

Higher gMFI of TGF-β in tongue cancer patients with larger tumor size

CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺

Higher frequency in low stages

CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺CD127^low/−

Higher frequency in LN‒ patients with tongue SCC

CD4⁺CD25⁻Foxp3⁺

Higher frequency in MLNs

CD4⁺CD25⁻Foxp3⁺ CD127^low/−

Higher frequency in MLNs

CD8⁺IFN-γ⁺

Higher frequency in low grade

CD8⁺IFN-γ⁺ TNF-α⁺

Higher frequency in low grade

CD8⁺IFN-γ⁺TNF-α⁻

Higher frequency in patients with larger tumor size

CD8⁺IL-4⁺

Higher frequency in advanced stages and in patients with lager tumor size

CD8⁺IL-17⁺

High gMFI of IL-17 in patients at stage III compared to stageIV

CD8⁺IL-10⁺

Higher frequency in MLNs of tongue SCC, higher frequency in advanced stages and in patients with larger tumor size, positive correlation with tumor size