IADR Abstract Archives
Tetraspanins as potential diagnostic markers in different oral epithelial lesions
Objectives: Tetraspanins are cell surface proteins that mediate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. Their capability to modify tumor invasion and metastasis has assigned them as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers for tumor progression. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of tetraspanins CD9, CD81 and CD63 in oral lichen planus (OLP), moderate-severe dysplasia (DYSP) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in comparison to healthy oral mucosa (NOR).
Methods: OLP (n=50), DYSP (n=7) and OSCC (n=6) were compared to NOR (n=14). Staining, assessed as percent of stained cells multiplied by staining intensity (1=weak, 2=strong), was evaluated per epithelial thirds (basal, middle and upper) and then as total staining score (sum of all thirds). Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney tests, significance was set as p>0.05.
Results: Expression of CD9 could differentiate between NOR and OLP, DYSP and OSCC (p=0.001, p=0.0001and p=0.0001, respectively) and between OLP and DYSP and OSCC (p=0.02 and p=0.001, respectively) but could not differentiate between DYSP and OSCC (p>0.05). CD81 showed a similar trend but unlike CD9, it could not differentiate between NOR and OLP. CD63 was able to discriminate between NOR versus OSCC and OLP (p=0.015 and p=0.002, respectively).
Conclusions: Expression of CD63 could generally differentiate normal mucosa from inflammation and malignancy. Expressions of CD9 and CD81 were more specific and could accurately discriminate between different types of pathologies. Therefore, the expression of tetraspanins could aid in defining the nature of equivocal histopathological changes in oral epithelial lesions.
Methods: OLP (n=50), DYSP (n=7) and OSCC (n=6) were compared to NOR (n=14). Staining, assessed as percent of stained cells multiplied by staining intensity (1=weak, 2=strong), was evaluated per epithelial thirds (basal, middle and upper) and then as total staining score (sum of all thirds). Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney tests, significance was set as p>0.05.
Results: Expression of CD9 could differentiate between NOR and OLP, DYSP and OSCC (p=0.001, p=0.0001and p=0.0001, respectively) and between OLP and DYSP and OSCC (p=0.02 and p=0.001, respectively) but could not differentiate between DYSP and OSCC (p>0.05). CD81 showed a similar trend but unlike CD9, it could not differentiate between NOR and OLP. CD63 was able to discriminate between NOR versus OSCC and OLP (p=0.015 and p=0.002, respectively).
Conclusions: Expression of CD63 could generally differentiate normal mucosa from inflammation and malignancy. Expressions of CD9 and CD81 were more specific and could accurately discriminate between different types of pathologies. Therefore, the expression of tetraspanins could aid in defining the nature of equivocal histopathological changes in oral epithelial lesions.