Immunohistochemical expression of PCNA, p53, bax and bcl-2 in oral lichen planus and epithelial dysplasia.

• Main Author: Sousa, Fernando A C G de
• Publication Date: 2009
• Other Authors: Paradella, Thaís C, Carvalho, Yasmin R, Rosa, Luiz E B
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Download full: http://dx.doi.org/10.2334/josnusd.51.117; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/70946
• topic: BAX protein, human; coloring agent; cycline; diagnostic agent; protein Bax; protein bcl 2; protein p53; apoptosis; cell proliferation; cell transformation; human; immunohistochemistry; lichen planus; mouth tumor; palatine tonsil; pathology; precancer; squamous cell carcinoma; Apoptosis; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Proliferation; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Coloring Agents; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lichen Planus, Oral; Mouth Neoplasms; Palatine Tonsil; Precancerous Conditions; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

The potential for malignant transformation of oral lichen planus is still controversial. The expression of proteins related to cell proliferation and apoptosis in oral lichen planus and epithelial dysplasia was analyzed to evaluate the true potential for malignant transformation of this disease. Twenty-four cases of each lesion were subjected to the streptoavidin-biotin technique for identifying the immunohistochemical expression of PCNA, p53, bax, and bcl-2 proteins. Of the 24 cases of oral lichen planus, 14 (58.33%) were positive for PCNA, 10 (41.67%) for p53, 4 (16.67%) for bcl-2 and 12 (50%) for bax, whereas of the 24 cases of epithelial dysplasia, 20 (83.33%) were positive for PCNA, 10 (41.67%) for p53, 6 (25%) for bcl-2, and 20 (83.33%) for bax. Chi-squared test showed no statistically significant differences between the expression of p53 and bcl-2 in oral lichen planus and epithelial dysplasia, regardless of the grade (P > 0.05). However, the expression of PCNA and bax was significantly increased in epithelial dysplasia (P < 0.05). The results of this study showed that alterations in expression of these proteins are observed in oral lichen planus and epithelial dysplasia, suggesting the potential for malignant transformation in both lesions.