title: Proteic expression of p53 and cellular proliferation in oral leukoplakias.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We intend to know the protein expression of genetic alterations that take place in the early stages in the field cancerization of oral cavity in our means as well as to study the cellular proliferation by means of Ki-67 and the protein product expression of p53 to value if the alterations in the protein products expression of these markers happen in a sequential pathway through the different stages in the field cancerization of oral cavity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study was made by immunohistochemistry on 53 patients that presented lesions of oral leukoplaquia, assisted by the ENT service at University Hospital of Salamanca, from 1.990 up to 2000. 11 samples of normal epithelium, 15 mild to moderate dysplasias, 15 in situ carcinomas and 12 microinvasive carcinomas are included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  we find an increased cellular proliferation and p53 over-expression as we advance in the grade of severity histopathologic of these lesions. The most early alterations are a significant increase of cell proliferation in mild and moderate dysplasias and an increased p53 over-expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral leukoplaquia is a precancerous stage that constitutes a cancerisable lesion due to the genetic alterations that mediate in the evolution of lesion. Routine Immunohistochemical and molecular study of these lesions allow us to know the protein expression of genetic alterations that can help in the early diagnosis and treatment of this pathology, having special relevance the study of Ki-67 in early stages and p53 in advanced lesions.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca. asantos@infomed.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos-García
authors.forename: M Mar
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abad-Hernández
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fonseca-Sánchez
authors.forename: Juan Jesús
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cruz-Hernández
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bullón-Sopelana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53