Quantitative assessment Cyclooxygenase – 2 immunohistochemical expression in different grades of oral epithelial dysplasia

Abstract

Oral leukoplakia (OLP) is one the most common potentially malignant disorders account 0.2 to 4.9% of malignant transformation and dysplastic lesions vary from 3-6% this rate of malignant conversion depends on the different grades of epithelial dysplasia. Recent literature suggests that increased levels of COX-2 in potentially malignant disorders and malignant tumors show prominent genetic evidence in tumorigenesis. Assessment of Cyclooxygenase-2 – 2 (COX-2) immunohistochemical expression in different grades of oral epithelial dysplasia. Materials and Methodology A total of forty formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were obtained from departmental archives which are histopathological diagnoses of different grades of oral epithelial dysplasia each grade ten samples was included. Stained with COX-2 and positive cells were counted and tabulated for statistical analysis. Results Comparison between genders in oral leukoplakia males was more when compared with females. The mean age in mild epithelial dysplasia was more when compared with moderate and severe epithelial dysplasia. Expression of COX-2 was increased from mild to severe epithelial dysplasia increases. The mean number of positive cells was increased. A comparison of all groups was not statistically significant (p≥0.05). Conclusion: Oral leukoplakia (OLP) is one the most common potentially malignant disorders which accounts for 0.2 to 4.9% of malignant transformation. COX-2 can be used for early detection and prognostic makers in different grades of oral epithelial dysplasia. Keywords: Cyclooxygenase, Expression, Oral leukoplakia, Potentially malignant transformation