Search

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) emerges from a dysplastic epithelial surface and comprises about 90% of head and neck cancers. VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) is one of the growth factors which directly affects vascular endothelial cells and evokes proliferation, migration and chemotaxis of endothelial cells. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare VEGF expression in the normal and dysplastic oral mucosa and in SCC. Materials and Methods: In this analytical-descriptive study, 20 normal mucosa, 20 dysplastic mucosa, and 20 SCC samples, which had been fixed with formalin and embedded in paraffin, were evaluated for expression of VEGF, using immunohistochemical technique and standard biotin streptavidin method. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests at 95% confidence interval (α = 0.05). Results: Means of VEFG expression were significantly higher in SCC samples compared to dysplastic samples (p value = 0.024). In addition, VEGF expression in SCC samples was higher than that in the normal samples (p value = 0.001). However, there was no significant relationship between the expression of VEFG in the dysplastic and normal mucosa samples (p value = 0.108). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, there is an increase in the expression of VEGF during transition from normal mucosa to dysplastic mucosa to SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma comprises approximately 94% of all the oral cavity malignancies. P53 is considered an indicator of malignant transformations and P63 can play an important role in epithelial dysplastic changes. In addition, HPV is associated with early stages of cancer development in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to evaluate P53 and P63 expression and their correlation with the presence of HPV in oral dysplastic lesions. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study forty paraffin blocks were collected, which included thirty samples with histopathologic reports of dysplastic lesions (mild, moderate, severe) and ten with a diagnosis of mucocele. Immunohistochemical staining with Envision method was performed for P53 and P63 markers and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used for detection of HPV virus. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS software and Kruskul-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U and Spearman tests (α = 0.05). Results: In this study the nuclear P53 and P63 staining was predominant in the basal/parabasal layers of the epithelium. There was a significant difference in P53 staining only between mucocele and mild dysplasia (p value < 0.05). A significant difference in P63 staining was observed between mucocele and all the dysplastic lesions (mild, moderate, and severe) (p value < 0.05). Human papilloma virus was detected in all the groups, with no significant differences between them (p value > 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study there was no statistically significant correlation between P53 and P63 expression and presence of HPV virus in oral dysplastic lesions; however, there was a significant correlation between P53 and P63 intensity and expression in the two layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]