title: Ki-67 expression in oral lichen planus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The monoclonal antibody Ki-67 detects a nuclear antigen that is present only in proliferating cells. This is of particular interest for the analysis of the proliferation rates of malignant tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the malignant potential of oral lichen planus (OLP) on the basis of expression of Ki-67 in healthy individuals (HI), patients with OLP and patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and to see for any potential interdependence between Ki-67 expression and different clinical and histopathological parameters in OLP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry for Ki-67 was carried out using an avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ki-67 was more expressed in keratinocytes and lymphocytes of OLP patients compared with HI, but less compared with patients with SCC. Keratinocytes and lymphocytes stained with Ki-67 in OLP patients were significantly higher in males, and in OLP specimens showed less developed civatte bodies (CB) and thickening of the basal membrane (TBM).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ki-67 may not serve as prognostic biomarker in oral cancer development from the initially diagnosed OLP, but it could help selecting patients with higher need of follow up for prevention of malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Belgrade, Serbia. hadzi04@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadzi-Mihailovic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cakic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jankovic
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Raybaud
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nedeljkovic
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jankovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000473:pathology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen