Mrinal V Shete1, Revati S Deshmukh1, Tejas Kulkarni2, Anagha V Shete2, Prasad Karande1, Pratik Hande3
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental School, Pune, Maharashtra, India
2Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental School, Pune, Maharashtra, India
3Department of Oral Surgery, Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental School, Pune, Maharashtra, India
DOI: 10.4103/jcar.JCar_3_20
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cancer invasion is a critical step for tumor growth and its progression. The focus on epithelial changes is shifting to increasing recognition that the microenvironment makes significant contributions to tumor progression. Stromal myofibroblasts play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis due to its ability to modify the extracellular matrix. Based on this literary evidence, we carried out an immunohistochemical study to observe the expression of myofibroblasts in oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate, compare, and correlate the presence of myofibroblasts in normal oral mucosa, oral epithelial dysplasia, and OSCC and to observe different patterns of myofibroblast arrangement using alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) as a marker, Thus assisting in early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of oral carcinomas.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six cases including 12 cases of OSCC, 12 cases of epithelial dysplasia, and 12 cases of normal oral mucosa were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to confirm the diagnosis and immunohistochemically using α-SMA antibody. The slides were evaluated for positivity and intensity of staining.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The result was subjected to statistical analysis using Fisher’s exact test.
RESULTS: α-SMA expression in the stroma of squamous cell carcinoma was greater than its expression in epithelial dysplasia and normal oral mucosa.
Keywords: Alpha-smooth muscle actin, myofibroblasts, oral squamous cell carcinoma