Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 as a biomarker in different subtypes of the oral lichenoid disease.
OBJECTIVE
Oral lichenoid disease (OLD) includes a number of chronic inflammatory processes including oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral lichenoid lesions (OLL) with controversial diagnosis and prognosis. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a key enzyme for inflammatory processes and cellular proliferation. Its overexpression in some premalignant chronic inflammatory diseases and malignant neoplasias could point to its potential as a prognostic factor. The aim of this study was to analyze the COX-2 expression in different subtypes of OLD because of its potential to be a marker of altered behavior.


METHODS
Forty-four samples from OLD patients were studied (30 females and 14 males) and classified according to their clinical (C1: only papular lesions/C2: papular and other lesions) and histological features (HT: OLP typical/HC: OLP compatible) according to published criteria. Standard immunohistochemical procedure was performed for COX-2 expression and a comparative and descriptive statistical analyses were performed.


RESULTS
Epithelial COX-2 overexpression was observed in 24 (54.5%) cases (C1: 13 [54.2%]/C2: 11 [45.8%], HT: 9 [37.5%]/HC: 15 [62.5%], P = .032). Inflammatory COX-2 overexpression was observed in 14 (31.8%) cases (C1: 6 [42.9%]/C2: 8 [57.1%], HT: 4 [28.6%]/HC: 10 [71.4%], P = .032).


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in COX-2 expression in subtypes of OLD may distinguish cases with a higher premalignant potential.
Dental Clinic Service, University of the Basque Country/EHU, Leioa, Spain.
Dionisio A
DA
Cortés-Ramírez
María J
MJ
Rodríguez-Tojo
María L
ML
Gainza-Cirauqui
Rafael
R
Martínez-Conde
José M
JM
Aguirre-Urizar
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000201:enzymology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D017512:Lichenoid Eruptions / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis
D015415:Biomarkers; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human