title: Immunohistochemical detection of p53 and p63 in oral squamous cell carcinoma, oral leukoplakia, and oral submucous fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) may be preceded by potentially malignant disorders such as leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). p63 in concert with p53 regulates cell proliferation and differentiation and may have a role in potentially malignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the expression of p53 and p63 proteins in OSCC, leukoplakia, and OSF by immunohistochemistry (IHC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue sections of OSCC (n = 20), leukoplakia (n = 20), OSF (n = 20) and normal oral mucosa (n = 10) were stained with p53 and p63 antibodies by IHC. Mean labeling index (LI) among the study groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean LI of p53 for OSCC, leukoplakia, OSF, and normal mucosa were 56.9 ± 21.3, 37.6 ± 12.6, 34.6 ± 8.7 and 15.1 ± 9, while mean LI of p63 were 56.8 ± 19.6, 42.3 ± 10.5, 32.8 ± 12.1, and 26.4 ± 9.4. The mean LI of p53 and p63 were significantly higher in OSCC, leukoplakia and OSF compared to normal mucosa (P < 0.01; P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significant increase in expression of p53 and p63 proteins in OSCC, leukoplakia, and OSF suggests their role as surrogate markers of malignant transformation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, PMS Institute of Dental Science and Research, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Varun
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
authors.forename: Umadevi K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Joshua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495901:TP53 protein, human; C115051:TP63 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
keywords: cancer; immunohistochemistry; leukoplakia; oral; submucous fibrosis