Comparative Study of the Expressions of Nuclear (∆EX3) and Cytoplasmic (2B) Survivins in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oral Lichen Planus Using Real-Time PCR.

OBJECTIVE

Survivin is used to determine the prognosis and clinical features of premalignant and malignant lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the expression of survivin isoforms and clinical outcomes in oral lichen planus and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study examined 119 cases, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), oral lichen planus (OLP), and healthy margins of lesions. For all lesions, survivin expression was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20.

RESULTS

The expression of survivin-∆EX3 and survivin-2B were quantitatively and qualitatively higher in SCC and OLP cases than in healthy mucosa (p < 0.05). The mean expression of survivin-∆EX3 in erosive OLP (4.95 ± 4.41) was higher than that in nonerosive OLP (2.13 ± 3.32, p < 0.05). Moreover, the mean expression of both genes was significantly higher in different grades of SCC compared to healthy mucosa (p < 0.05). There was also a significant correlation between gene expressions (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The increased expression of survivin-∆EX3 and survivin-2B in OSCC correlates with tumor progression and advanced clinical stages, suggesting a potential prognostic role.