Abstract .
Background: The malignant transformation potential of oral lichen planus (OLP) is a subject of great controversy.
Aims: The present study aimed to assess immunohistochemically Survivin and CD146 expressions in OLP and different grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Methods: Fifty specimens of OLP and OSCC, twenty-five each, were included in the present study. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-Survivin and anti-CD146 primary antibodies was performed. Area fraction of immunopositivity was measured by image analysis software followed by statistical analysis using ANOVA and Bonferroniʾs post hoc tests.
Results: All cases of OLP were immunopositive for Survivin and CD146 while in OSCC all cases were immunopositive for Survivin and only twenty cases of well and moderately differentiated OSCC were immunopositive for CD146. All cases of poorly differentiated OSCC were immunonegative for CD146. Statistically significant difference in Survivin and CD146 expressions were detected in OLP and all grades of OSCC (P < 0.001). Moreover, statistically significant difference in expression of both markers was detected when compared with different histopathological grades of OSCC. A statistically significant inverse correlation between Survivin and CD146 immunoexpression in both lesions was found.
Conclusion: Survivin could be an early diagnostic marker that predicts potency toward malignant transformation of OLP as well as a prognostic marker of OSCC. CD146 expression may be the cause of OLP progression into OSCC.
Keywords: oral lichen planus, oral squamous cell carcinoma, survivin, CD146..