Expression Of P63 In Oral Dysplastic And Malignant Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: Oral cancer is one of the most commonly found cancers in the general population with variations in incidence rates in different countries. Squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) is the commonest carcinoma of the oral cavity, constituting 90 percent. A large number of OSCC are followed by the premalignant lesion. P63, which is a part of the p53 family protein, is a known  basal cell immunohistochemical marker. Overexpression of P63 is found in many tumors including oral SCC. By changing stem cell function in the basal layer P63 may have its contribution to the development of epithelial dysplasia and this may play role in oral carcinogenesis.

Objective: The aim was to determine the P63 IHC marker expression in oral epithelial dysplasia and Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) biopsy specimens.

Methods: Present study included ninety-five cases, included 41 of dysplasia and 54 of SCC that were evaluated for P63 immunohistochemical expression and correlated this expression on different grades of dysplasia and SCC.

Results: P63 positivity was found in 100% cases of dysplasia and 96.3% cases of SCC. A highly significant P-value was observed between the immunoreactive score for P63 staining in various grades of dysplasia and SCC.

Conclusion: The current study found increased P63 positivity in increasing severity of dysplasia and SCC.  Increase P63 positivity in increasing grades of dysplasia and SCC may reflect the major role of this protein in the development of OSCC, and might be a useful indicator of dysplastic change. On the basis of these results, P63 might be a beneficial marker for improved prognosis of dysplasia and SCC.