title: Proliferation and apoptosis markers in oral submucous fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Premalignant/potentially malignant-oral lesions and conditions such as oral submucous fibrosis are known to transform into oral cancer. The malignant transformation is often associated with changes at the genetic level that in turn is reflected by the altered expression of proteins related to cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the expression of p53, Ki67 (MIB), bcl2, and bax in oral submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the immunohistochemical expression of p53, Ki67 (MIB), bcl2, and bax in 50 cases of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and ten each of normal and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The labeling indices (LI) of OSF and OSCC were comparable for p53 and Ki67.The p53 LI ranged from 7.9 to 71.9 in OSF and 65.2 to 85.9 in OSCC, and for Ki67 it ranged from 4.39 to 43.23, 18.35 to 42.33, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The p53, Ki67, and bax profiles of OSF and OSCC were altered compared to the normal and these markers could be used as surrogate markers of malignant transformation in OSF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kavitha