DNA content as a prognostic marker of oral lichen planus with a risk of cancer development.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the presence of aneuploidy in oral lichen planus (OLP) and its usefulness as a prognostic marker.


METHODS
Eighty-one formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy samples taken from atrophic-erosive OLP from 70 patients were studied. Approximately 150 random nuclei in basal and/or parabasal epithelia were analyzed with static cytometry.


RESULTS
Aneuploidy was detected in 41% of samples. OLPs with ulcerations or location in the tongue had significantly higher values, respectively, for the 2.5c exceeding rate (ER) (p<0.001 and 0.001) and proliferation index (PI) (p = 0.012 and 0.013) than did lesions without ulcerations or at other locations. 2.5c ER was significantly higher in dysplastic OLP lesions (p < 0.001), and the significant value (p = 0.001)for 2.5c ER discriminating DNA aneuploidy was 15.3%. In multivariate analysis only the G2/M ER (G2/MER) was a significant independent predictor of developing cancer in OLP (OR 2.349, 95% CI 1.39-3.97, p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Ulcerated atrophic-erosive OLPs of the tongue and with dysplasia are at increased risk of cancer development. 2.5c ER, PI and G2/MER might be useful in prognosticating the increased risk of malignancy in OLP.
Mattila
Riikka
R
Department of Oral Pathology and Radiology, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. riikka.mattila@utu.fi
Alanen
Kalle
K
Syrjänen
Stina
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000782:Aneuploidy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007399:Interphase; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012306:Risk; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology
D015415:Biomarkers; D004247:DNA