RESUMEN
The study aimed at checking if MAGE-A expression in oral leukoplakia (OLP) lesions is related to malignant transformation. The 48 samples of OLP that transformed to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (group 1) and 50 samples of OLP that did not transform to OSCC (group 2) were included in the study. The expression of MAGE-A was restricted to group 1. The correlation between malignant transformation and MAGE-A occurrence in OLP was statistically significant (p < .0001). Detection of MAGE-A may allow identifying OLP with a high risk of malignant transformation giving a view to a new approach to prevention of oral cancer.
Asunto(s)
Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/metabolismo , Leucoplasia Bucal/patología , Antígenos Específicos del Melanoma/análisis , Neoplasias de la Boca/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patología , Transformación Celular Neoplásica/patología , Femenino , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Mucosa Bucal/metabolismo , Mucosa Bucal/patología , Neoplasias de la Boca/patologíaRESUMEN
The risk of the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia (OLP) is difficult to predict by histopathology. Melanoma-associated antigen-A (MAGE-A) expression is restricted to malignant cells and may be useful for the more accurate estimation of the potential malignant transformation of pre-malignant lesions. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the expression of MAGE-A can be used to predict the malignant transformation of OLP. Paraffin-embedded tissue samples of OLP from 74 patients followed-up for at least 5 years were included. A total of 24 progressing and 50 non-progressing OLP, 18 corresponding tumor and 30 healthy mucosa specimens were analysed for MAGE-A 1, 3, 4, 6 10 and 12 expression by nested realtime RT-PCR and graded for dysplasia. In total, 46% of the progressing lesions expressed at least 1 out of the examined MAGE-A antigens, whereas no expression was detected in any of the non-progressing OLP and normal specimens. The correlation between malignant transformation and MAGE-A expression was statistically significant (p=0.00001). Furthermore, 42% of the progressing OLPs without dysplasia (D0) expressed at least 1 antigen. The correlation between the grade of dysplasia and MAGE-A staining in the malignant transformation group was not significant (p=0.08). The detection of at least 1 MAGE-A antigen may allow the identification of high-risk lesions that may progress into carcinoma with time. Therefore, the investigation of MAGE-A expression should be assessed in order to obtain a more accurate evaluation of the potential cancer risk of OLP.