Ebrahimi Majid, Boldrup Linda, Wahlin Ylva-Britt, Coates Philip J, Nylander Karin
Department of Odontology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Oral Oncol. 2008 Jul;44(7):634-8. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2007.08.001. Epub 2007 Oct 23.
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease and although classified by WHO as a premalignant condition, the risk for transformation into squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is a matter of great controversy. The p63 gene encodes six different proteins which are required for development of ectodermally derived tissues such as oral mucosa, salivary glands, teeth and skin. p63 is highly expressed in SCCHN whereas decreased expression is seen in OLP. beta-catenin, E-cadherin and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are p63 related proteins, and abnormalities in their expression suggested they are involved in development of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). In this study we mapped the expression of these p63 related proteins in OLP and matched normal healthy controls. Results showed decreased expression of beta-catenin, E-cadherin and EGFR in the vast majority of OLP samples compared with the normal controls. This is the first comprehensive study mapping expression of several p63- and SCCHN-related proteins in tissue from patients with OLP. Results showed a mixed expression pattern with OLP variably resembling normal as well as tumour tissue. Based on our present and previous data it cannot be judged whether OLP lesions are at an increased risk of malignant development.
口腔扁平苔藓（OLP）是一种慢性炎症性疾病，尽管世界卫生组织将其归类为癌前病变，但它转化为头颈部鳞状细胞癌（SCCHN）的风险仍存在很大争议。p63基因编码六种不同的蛋白质，这些蛋白质是外胚层衍生组织（如口腔黏膜、唾液腺、牙齿和皮肤）发育所必需的。p63在SCCHN中高度表达，而在OLP中表达降低。β-连环蛋白、E-钙黏蛋白和表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）是与p63相关的蛋白质，它们表达的异常表明它们参与了头颈部鳞状细胞癌（SCCHN）的发生发展。在本研究中，我们描绘了这些与p63相关的蛋白质在OLP及配对的正常健康对照中的表达情况。结果显示，与正常对照相比，绝大多数OLP样本中β-连环蛋白、E-钙黏蛋白和EGFR的表达降低。这是第一项全面描绘OLP患者组织中几种与p63和SCCHN相关蛋白质表达情况的研究。结果显示出一种混合的表达模式，OLP在不同程度上类似于正常组织和肿瘤组织。根据我们目前和以前的数据，无法判断OLP病变发生恶性发展的风险是否增加。
