Increased expression of CK8 and CK18 in leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral squamous cell carcinoma: an immunohistochemistry study.
OBJECTIVE
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) may be preceded by potentially malignant disorders such as leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and has a greater than normal risk of malignant transformation. Very little is known of cytokeratin (CK) alterations in OSF, leukoplakia, and OSCC. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the expression of CK8 and CK18 in normal oral mucosa, oral epithelial dysplasia, OSF, and OSCC by immunohistochemistry.


METHODS
Paraffin-embedded normal (n = 10), dysplasia (n = 10), OSF (n = 10), and OSCC (n = 10) tissues were stained with CK8 and CK18 by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Increased expression of CK8 and CK18 was seen in dysplasia, OSF, and OSCC. Staining pattern and intensity showed variations, with intensity of staining in basal and suprabasal layers for CK8 and CK18.


CONCLUSIONS
Intensity of staining in the basal layer for CK18 was statistical significant, suggesting CK8 and CK18 as surrogate markers of malignant transformation.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, SGT Dental College and Hospital, Haryana, India. kdsnanda@gmail.com
Kanwar Deep Singh
KD
Nanda
Kanan
K
Ranganathan
Uma
U
Devi
Elizabeth
E
Joshua
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053538:Keratin-18 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053533:Keratin-8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053538:Keratin-18; D053533:Keratin-8