title: Quantitative estimation of PCNA, c-myc, EGFR and TGF-alpha in oral submucous fibrosis--an immunohistochemical study.
abstract: The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the expression of three proliferation markers, viz., epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and one genomic marker, c-myc in OSMF. Oral tissues were stained with monoclonal antibodies to PCNA, c-myc, TGF-alpha and EGFR. The results were analyzed with Photoquant image analysis software. The expression of PCNA, c-myc, TGF-alpha and EGFR was higher in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) than in normal control oral mucosa. The oral epithelium was divided into a proliferative compartment (stratum germinativum) and a differentiated compartment (stratum spinosum). A differential pattern of expression of PCNA and c-myc was observed in OSMF. While the intensity of staining decreased, the percent area of expression of PCNA and c-myc increased in stratum germinativum in OSMF (P<0.05). This suggests that greater proportions of cells exhibit PCNA and c-myc immunoreactivity and are in the proliferative pool in OSMF. TGF-alpha levels increased in the proliferative layers and EGFR levels increased in the differentiated layers (P<0.05) of the oral epithelium in OSMF. Quantitative measurement of these oncoproteins substantiates the precancerous nature of OSMF and may provide intermediate end-points in prospective chemopreventive trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, Ohio State University, Ohio, Columbus, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Jewell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D066246:ErbB Receptors