[The expression of hTERT and p53 protein in pre-malignant and malignant lesions of human oral mucosa].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the roles of hTERT and p53 protein in malignant changes of oral mucosal precancerous lesions and the relations between hTERT and p53.


METHODS
The expression of hTERTmRNA and p53 were measured using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical assay in 9 cases of oral mucosal hyperplasia, 11 cases of light dysplasia, 10 cases of medium dysplasia, 9 cases of carcinomas in situ and 11 cases of squamous cell carcinomas. The results were processed by medical photographic system, and analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA. The relation to hTERT and p53 was analyzed statistically by Pearson correlations.


RESULTS
It was found that from hyperplasia to light dysplasia, medium dysplasia, carcinomas in situ and squamous cell carcinomas, the indexes of positive cell vessels and the value of OD increased, arriving at the apex in squamous cell carcinoma. With phenotypic progression and the degree of dysplasia, hTERT and p53 expression cells extend from basal layer to the keratinous layer. In highly-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, expression cells were mainly located around the nests. Stained cells dispersed throughout the tumor tissue in low-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas. p53 was undetectable in hyperplasia and light dysplasia, but p53 was observed in 66.67% cases of high dysplasia and 72.72% cases of squamous cell carcinomas. There was not a significant linear correlation between hTERT and p53.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that activation of telomerase and p53 play a role in the process of malignant changes of oral mucosal precancerous lesions. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a disease that has been found in association with many factors.
Wu
Guo-Ying
GY
Department of Oral Medicine, The Stomatology School of Nanjing Medical University. Nanjing 210029,China. wuguoying888@163.com
Zhu
Ling
L
Feng
Zhen-Qing
ZQ
Peng
Tao
T
Qi
Bing
B
D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D019098:Telomerase