Assessment of malignant potential of oral submucous fibrosis through evaluation of p63, E-cadherin and CD105 expression.
BACKGROUND
The assessment of malignant potential of oral submucous fibrosis grades vis-à-vis their progression towards malignancy is associated with expression of possible multiple molecular markers.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse p63, E-cadherin and CD105 expression in this premalignant pathosis with a view to unravel and understand the expression of these molecules as markers.


METHODS
The oral mucosal biopsies (normal, oral submucous fibrosis with and without dysplasia) were studied with routine H&E, and by immunohistochemistry for p63, E-cadherin and CD105 expression. p63 was assessed as percentage of positive nuclei. E-cadherin expression was estimated through (i) distance between basement membrane and E-cadherin expression initiation point, (ii) ratio between epithelial thickness and epithelial thickness displaying E-cadherin, and (iii) E-cadherin intensity variation along the expression path. CD105 expression was assessed qualitatively.


RESULTS
The p63+ cells were highest in severely dysplastic tissues followed by other dysplastic grades, normal oral mucosa and non-dysplastic conditions. However, the p63+ cells displayed the feature of progressive maturation only in normal mucosa. There was a loss of membranous E-cadherin in basal layers of all diseased conditions; it was highest in severe dysplasia. There was significant variation (p<0.0001) in E-cadherin intensity within and between the tissues (normal and diseased). CD105 expression increased abruptly in dysplasia.


CONCLUSIONS
The malignant potential of this pre-cancerous condition is likely to be correlated with an increase in p63 and CD105 expression and a concomitant loss of membranous E-cadherin. This may lead to marker identification through greater validation.
Das
Raunak Kumar
RK
School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India. raunak81@gmail.com
Pal
Mousumi
M
Barui
Ananya
A
Paul
Ranjan Rashmi
RR
Chakraborty
Chandan
C
Ray
Ajoy Kumar
AK
Sengupta
Sanghamitra
S
Chatterjee
Jyotirmoy
J
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D000071063:Endoglin; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism
D015703:Antigens, CD; C081876:CKAP4 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface