Cytokeratin alteration in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Thomas Fillies
    • Mirco Jogschies
    • Johannes Kleinheinz
    • Burkhard Brandt
    • Ulrich Joos
    • Horst Buerger
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 1, 2007     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.18.3.639
  • Pages: 639-643
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Abstract

Intermediate filaments are involved in cell migration and intracellular signal transduction pathways. In a variety of organs, the expression of distinct intermediary filaments are further associated with distinct steps of malignant transformation. In this study, we seeked to define the cytokeratin (Ck) expression pattern in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). One hundred and ninety-two patients with OSCC, 117 patients with oral leukoplakia without dysplasia (OL) and 23 with oral leukoplakia with dysplasia (squamous intraepithelial neoplasia) (OLD) of the oral cavity were investigated for the immunohistochemical expression of Ck 5-6, Ck 8/18, Ck 1 Ck 10, Ck 14, Ck 19 using the tissue microarray technique. Correlations between clinical features and the expression of cytokeratins were evaluated statistically by χ2 tests. The expression of Ck 8/18, Ck 19 and Ck 1 was seen in 3.1% (Ck 8/18), 12.5% (Ck 19), 75.4% (Ck 1) of all leukoplakias, 1.0% (Ck 8/18), 9.4% (Ck 19), 76.8% (Ck 1) in OL, 13.0% (Ck 8/18), 27.3% (Ck 19), 68.4% (Ck 1) in OLD and was significantly associated with the degree of dysplasia (Ck 8/18 p<0.01; Ck 19 p<0.01; Ck 1 p<0.01) and the acquisition of invasive growth properties. The highest frequencies were observed in invasive squamous cell carcinomas. The expression of Ck 8/18 and Ck 19 in transformed oral lesions can be regarded as an early feature in the pathogenesis of invasive OSCC. However, the aberrant expression of Ck 8/18 and Ck 19 in an even higher frequency in invasive carcinomas characterizes the expression of typical glandular cytokeratins as a general progression marker in squamous cell carcinomas. These results can be interpreted as first hints that oral leukoplakias with an expression of Ck 8/18 or 19 independent of dysplasia, should be resected totally since they might indicate an increased progression potential.

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September 2007
Volume 18 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Fillies T, Jogschies M, Kleinheinz J, Brandt B, Joos U and Buerger H: Cytokeratin alteration in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Oncol Rep 18: 639-643, 2007
APA
Fillies, T., Jogschies, M., Kleinheinz, J., Brandt, B., Joos, U., & Buerger, H. (2007). Cytokeratin alteration in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Oncology Reports, 18, 639-643. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.18.3.639
MLA
Fillies, T., Jogschies, M., Kleinheinz, J., Brandt, B., Joos, U., Buerger, H."Cytokeratin alteration in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma". Oncology Reports 18.3 (2007): 639-643.
Chicago
Fillies, T., Jogschies, M., Kleinheinz, J., Brandt, B., Joos, U., Buerger, H."Cytokeratin alteration in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma". Oncology Reports 18, no. 3 (2007): 639-643. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.18.3.639