Overestimated risk of transformation in oral lichen planus.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) was classified as an oral potentially malignant disorder due to the association with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the malignant potential of OLP has been controversial. Whether epithelial dysplasia should be differentiated from OLP and lichenoid dysplasia could be identified as a pathological entity has been the subject of debate. We recruited a large retrospective cohort with 3568 patients, and 10 of them developed OSCC. These cases were reviewed retrospectively to investigate association between OLP and OSCC. In 10 cases of OSCC, three of them were primary cancers distinct from the site with OLP, two were malignant transformation of proliferative verrucous leukoplakia, and five were malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia. All OSCC is not transformed from OLP. Therefore, previous insights into OLP might have overestimated its transformation risk. There may be the reasons: I. did not distinguish OLP from epithelial dysplasia, II. neglect of oral leukoplakia with dysplasia developed in the course after OLP, III. misdiagnosis in the early stage of proliferative verrucous leukoplakia. The pathological and molecular biological features of OLP differed from those of oral leukoplakia and OSCC. Strict control of the diagnostic criteria for OLP and close surveillance during the course could contribute to correctly identify the origin of OSCC and avoid overestimating the risk of OLP transformation.

Cai X ，Zhang J ，Zhang H ，Li T ... -  《-》

[Determination of human papillomavirus in oral leukoplakia,oral lichen planus and oral squamous cell carcinoma].

Cao J ，Jin JQ ，Deng DJ ，Liu HW ... -  《-》

Caveolin-1 expression in oral lichen planus, dysplastic lesions and squamous cell carcinoma.

Caveolin-1(Cav-1), the main part of caveolae structure, is supposed to play a role in pathogenesis of many human tumors. Since oral lichen planus (OLP) is considered as a potential premalignant disease, this study evaluated Cav-1 expression in OLP in comparison with benign hyperkeratosis, dysplastic epithelium and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), to investigate its possible role in pathogenesis and malignant transformation of OLP. In this cross-sectional retrospective study, immunohistochemical expression of Cav-1 in the epithelial component and stroma was evaluated in 81 samples, including 12 cases of hyperkeratosis, 24 OLP, 22 epithelial dysplasia, and 23 OSCC samples. Correlations between Cav-1 expression and clinicopathological variables were evaluated statistically. Positive Cav-1 staining was found in 58% of OLP, 91% of hyperkeratosis, 100% of epithelial dysplasia, and 95% of OSCC samples. OSCC showed the highest Cav-1 expression and OLP had the lowest (P=0.001). The intensity of staining was significantly increased in stepwise manner from OLP to OSCC (P=0.001). Expression of Cav-1 was related to the grade of samples in OSCC and dysplastic samples (P=0.04). Based on the findings, it was concluded that Cav-1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of OLP and carcinogenesis of SCC, but its role in malignant transformation of OLP is not confirmed. Further studies are needed to evaluate its potential therapeutic function in OLP and SCC.

Jaafari-Ashkavandi Z ，Aslani E 《-》

Evaluation of Potential Risk Factors that contribute to Malignant Transformation of Oral Lichen Planus: A Literature Review.

Agha-Hosseini F ，Sheykhbahaei N ，SadrZadeh-Afshar MS 《-》

Expressions of Interleukin-27 in Oral Lichen Planus, Oral Leukoplakia, and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The present study aimed to detect the expression of interleukin-27 (IL-27) in tissues of oral lichen planus (OLP), oral leukoplakia (OLK), and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to investigate the possible role of IL-27 in the above diseases and whether it was involved in the onset and development of the tumor. Paraffin tissues from patients with OLP, OLK, and OSCC were collected, and the expression of IL-27 in the above tissues was detected by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Parameters were obtained from the images by the Image-Pro Plus (IPP) image analysis software, and statistical analysis was performed using relevant data. The expressions of IL-27 were significantly higher in specimens with OLP, OLK, and OSCC than those in the healthy group. In OLP, the expression of IL-27 was positively correlated with the degree of lymphocyte infiltration and basal cell liquefaction while independent of the clinical type. In OLK, the expression of IL-27 was positively correlated with abnormal epithelial cell proliferation. In OSCC, the expression of IL-27 was correlated with the degree of squamous cell differentiation and was independent of gender, TNM stage, and lymphatic metastasis. The expressions of IL-27 were significantly higher in tissues with severe OLP and OLK than that in the control group, while similar to that in highly differentiated OSCC. The expressions of IL-27 were significantly elevated in tissues with OLP, OLK, and OSCC, suggesting that IL-27 might be involved in the development of these diseases and play a role in the carcinogenesis of oral precancerous lesions.

Wang QM ，Huang XY ，Guan WQ 《-》