pd-1, tim-3, and lag-3 expression in t cells in a patient with recurrent ossifying fibroma: a case report

Central ossifying fibroma is a benign, slow-growing tumor of mesenchymal origin with a predilection for the mandibular premolar and molar areas. the immunophenotype of t cells involved in the antitumor response against this benign tumor is unknown. in this case report, we described a case of a 48-year-old woman presenting with a very large recurrent ossifying fibroma in the mandible, which was successfully treated with hemimaxillectomy. in addition, we evaluated the expression of programmed cell death 1 receptor (pd-1), lymphocyte activation gene-3 (lag-3), t cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (tim-3), cytotoxic t lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (ctla-4), cd69 (activation inducer molecule), and cd25 (α chain of the high-affinity il-2 receptor) in t cell populations from the tumor and peripheral blood of this uncommon lesion. the patient presented recurrent ossifying fibroma, and the tumor-infiltrating and peripheral blood t cells showed expression of pd-1, lag-3, and tim-3, suggesting an exhausted t cell response.