C-kit Expression in Oral Leukoplakia

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2022 Feb;32(2):256-258. doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2022.02.256.

Abstract

Oral leukoplakia is the most common potentially malignant oral disorder. Oral leukoplakia's malignant potential is independent of the histopathological grade, and the malignant transformation rate varies greatly from 3% to 50% even in the case of severe epithelial dysplasia. Ethnic & environmental variables may contribute to this variation. C-kit immunohistochemistry was performed on 15 oral leukoplakia (OL), two oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and two dentigerous cysts (DC). The objective of this study was to evaluate the c-kit expression in oral leukoplakia. The use of various immunohistochemical markers to differentiate between OLs with a high and low risk of malignant transformation has been investigated. Only four OL exhibited a faint cytoplasmic expression in basal cells. Whereas, OSCC and DC were devoid of c-kit expression. Thus, this may not be a unique marker for identifying OL at high-risk. Further research with larger sample size is required. Key Words: CD 117, Disease progression, Oral dysplasia, Oral leukoplakia, Risk prediction.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Leukoplakia, Oral
  • Mouth Neoplasms*