Immunohistochemical Expression of Differentiated Embryonic Chondrocyte 1 and Cluster of Differentiation 44 in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Oral cancer remains a critical global health concern, with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) being the most prevalent form. Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), such as oral leukoplakia (OLK), oral lichen planus (OLP), and actinic cheilitis (A...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Medicina |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/2/251 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850229780359675904 |
|---|---|
| author | Bianca-Andreea Onofrei Delia Gabriela Ciobanu Apostol Mădălina-Gabriela Tanasă Elena-Raluca Baciu Cristina Popa Ana Maria Sciuca Mihaela Paula Toader Victor-Vlad Costan |
| author_facet | Bianca-Andreea Onofrei Delia Gabriela Ciobanu Apostol Mădălina-Gabriela Tanasă Elena-Raluca Baciu Cristina Popa Ana Maria Sciuca Mihaela Paula Toader Victor-Vlad Costan |
| author_sort | Bianca-Andreea Onofrei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Oral cancer remains a critical global health concern, with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) being the most prevalent form. Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), such as oral leukoplakia (OLK), oral lichen planus (OLP), and actinic cheilitis (AC), often precede OSCC. Identifying reliable biomarkers is vital for assessing malignant transformation risk. The present study aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of differentiated embryonic chondrocyte 1 (DEC1), a marker of dysplasia severity, and cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), which is associated with cancer progression, in OPMD and OSCC tissues. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 145 biopsy specimens from January 2015 to January 2023, comprising normal mucosa (NM), OLK, OLP, AC, and OSCC. DEC1 and CD44 expression levels were assessed using immunohistochemical staining. Positivity scores were determined based on staining intensity and extent, with statistical analyses performed using SPSS software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA, version 29.0 for Windows). <i>Results</i>: It was found that CD44 expression significantly increased across OPMD and OSCC compared to NM (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Conversely, DEC1 expression was consistent across lesion types and dysplasia levels. CD44 expression was the highest in AC and OSCC, underscoring its potential role as a progression marker. <i>Conclusions</i>: The results indicate that CD44 is a more sensitive marker for assessing dysplastic severity and malignant transformation, while DEC1 may serve as a complementary marker for early-stage evaluation. Further research involving larger cohorts is needed to confirm these findings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-499583d4f75f4d109a5d937d4567d09b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj-art-499583d4f75f4d109a5d937d4567d09b2025-08-20T02:04:06ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-02-0161225110.3390/medicina61020251Immunohistochemical Expression of Differentiated Embryonic Chondrocyte 1 and Cluster of Differentiation 44 in Oral Potentially Malignant DisordersBianca-Andreea Onofrei0Delia Gabriela Ciobanu Apostol1Mădălina-Gabriela Tanasă2Elena-Raluca Baciu3Cristina Popa4Ana Maria Sciuca5Mihaela Paula Toader6Victor-Vlad Costan7Department of Surgicals, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Morpho-Functional Sciences I, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Morpho-Functional Sciences I, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Implantology, Removable Prostheses, Dental Technology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Surgicals, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Surgicals, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Surgicals, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Surgicals, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Oral cancer remains a critical global health concern, with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) being the most prevalent form. Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), such as oral leukoplakia (OLK), oral lichen planus (OLP), and actinic cheilitis (AC), often precede OSCC. Identifying reliable biomarkers is vital for assessing malignant transformation risk. The present study aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of differentiated embryonic chondrocyte 1 (DEC1), a marker of dysplasia severity, and cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), which is associated with cancer progression, in OPMD and OSCC tissues. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 145 biopsy specimens from January 2015 to January 2023, comprising normal mucosa (NM), OLK, OLP, AC, and OSCC. DEC1 and CD44 expression levels were assessed using immunohistochemical staining. Positivity scores were determined based on staining intensity and extent, with statistical analyses performed using SPSS software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA, version 29.0 for Windows). <i>Results</i>: It was found that CD44 expression significantly increased across OPMD and OSCC compared to NM (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Conversely, DEC1 expression was consistent across lesion types and dysplasia levels. CD44 expression was the highest in AC and OSCC, underscoring its potential role as a progression marker. <i>Conclusions</i>: The results indicate that CD44 is a more sensitive marker for assessing dysplastic severity and malignant transformation, while DEC1 may serve as a complementary marker for early-stage evaluation. Further research involving larger cohorts is needed to confirm these findings.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/2/251oral leukoplakiaoral lichen planusactinic cheilitisoral squamous cell carcinomaDEC1CD44 |
| spellingShingle | Bianca-Andreea Onofrei Delia Gabriela Ciobanu Apostol Mădălina-Gabriela Tanasă Elena-Raluca Baciu Cristina Popa Ana Maria Sciuca Mihaela Paula Toader Victor-Vlad Costan Immunohistochemical Expression of Differentiated Embryonic Chondrocyte 1 and Cluster of Differentiation 44 in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders Medicina oral leukoplakia oral lichen planus actinic cheilitis oral squamous cell carcinoma DEC1 CD44 |
| title | Immunohistochemical Expression of Differentiated Embryonic Chondrocyte 1 and Cluster of Differentiation 44 in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders |
| title_full | Immunohistochemical Expression of Differentiated Embryonic Chondrocyte 1 and Cluster of Differentiation 44 in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders |
| title_fullStr | Immunohistochemical Expression of Differentiated Embryonic Chondrocyte 1 and Cluster of Differentiation 44 in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immunohistochemical Expression of Differentiated Embryonic Chondrocyte 1 and Cluster of Differentiation 44 in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders |
| title_short | Immunohistochemical Expression of Differentiated Embryonic Chondrocyte 1 and Cluster of Differentiation 44 in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders |
| title_sort | immunohistochemical expression of differentiated embryonic chondrocyte 1 and cluster of differentiation 44 in oral potentially malignant disorders |
| topic | oral leukoplakia oral lichen planus actinic cheilitis oral squamous cell carcinoma DEC1 CD44 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/2/251 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT biancaandreeaonofrei immunohistochemicalexpressionofdifferentiatedembryonicchondrocyte1andclusterofdifferentiation44inoralpotentiallymalignantdisorders AT deliagabrielaciobanuapostol immunohistochemicalexpressionofdifferentiatedembryonicchondrocyte1andclusterofdifferentiation44inoralpotentiallymalignantdisorders AT madalinagabrielatanasa immunohistochemicalexpressionofdifferentiatedembryonicchondrocyte1andclusterofdifferentiation44inoralpotentiallymalignantdisorders AT elenaralucabaciu immunohistochemicalexpressionofdifferentiatedembryonicchondrocyte1andclusterofdifferentiation44inoralpotentiallymalignantdisorders AT cristinapopa immunohistochemicalexpressionofdifferentiatedembryonicchondrocyte1andclusterofdifferentiation44inoralpotentiallymalignantdisorders AT anamariasciuca immunohistochemicalexpressionofdifferentiatedembryonicchondrocyte1andclusterofdifferentiation44inoralpotentiallymalignantdisorders AT mihaelapaulatoader immunohistochemicalexpressionofdifferentiatedembryonicchondrocyte1andclusterofdifferentiation44inoralpotentiallymalignantdisorders AT victorvladcostan immunohistochemicalexpressionofdifferentiatedembryonicchondrocyte1andclusterofdifferentiation44inoralpotentiallymalignantdisorders |