Natural killer (NK) cells are important immune effector cells against tumors especially in the absence or reducing MHC class I antigen. Downregulation of CD16 receptor is accompanied by decreasing NK cell‐killing activity. It has also been shown that some of tumor cells can evade from immune system through producing transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) and affect prognosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of CD57⁺ and CD16⁺ cells and TGF‐β expression in samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

CD57, CD16, and TGF‐β expressions were examined immunohistochemically in 57 cases of OSCC. The relationship between markers’ expression and clinicopathologic data using bivariate and multivariate analysis was assessed.

Multivariate analysis revealed that CD57 expression [HR 17.34 (95% CI 3.815–78.830); P < 0.001] and mode of invasion [HR 0.362 (95% CI 0.138–0.947); P = 0.038] correlated with survival rate, but no relation between CD57 expression and mode of invasion was seen (P = 0.96). Furthermore, no correlation between CD57, CD16, and TGF‐β expression was found.

These findings suggest that CD57 expression and mode of invasion are independent prognostic factors of survival in OSCC patients.