Intermediate filaments are involved in cell migration and intracellular signal transduction pathways. In a variety of organs, the expression of distinct intermediary filaments are further associated with distinct steps of malignant transformation. In this study, we seeked to define the cytokeratin (Ck) expression pattern in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). One hundred and ninety-two patients with OSCC, 117 patients with oral leukoplakia without dysplasia (OL) and 23 with oral leukoplakia with dysplasia (squamous intraepithelial neoplasia) (OLD) of the oral cavity were investigated for the immunohistochemical expression of Ck 5-6, Ck 8/18, Ck 1 Ck 10, Ck 14, Ck 19 using the tissue microarray technique. Correlations between clinical features and the expression of cytokeratins were evaluated statistically by chi2 tests. The expression of Ck 8/18, Ck 19 and Ck 1 was seen in 3.1% (Ck 8/18), 12.5% (Ck 19), 75.4% (Ck 1) of all leukoplakias, 1.0% (Ck 8/18), 9.4% (Ck 19), 76.8% (Ck 1) in OL, 13.0% (Ck 8/18), 27.3% (Ck 19), 68.4% (Ck 1) in OLD and was significantly associated with the degree of dysplasia (Ck 8/18 p
Intermediate filaments are involved in cell migration and intracellular signal transduction pathways. In a variety of organs, the expression of distinct intermediary filaments are further associated with distinct steps of malignant transformation. In this study, we seeked to define the cytokeratin (Ck) expression pattern in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). One hundred and ninety-two patients with OSCC, 117 patients with oral leukoplakia without dysplasia (OL) and 23 with oral leukoplakia with dysplasia (squamous intraepithelial neoplasia) (OLD) of the oral cavity were investigated for the immunohistochemical expression of Ck 5-6, Ck 8/18, Ck 1 Ck 10, Ck 14, Ck 19 using the tissue microarray technique. Correlations between clinical features and the expression of cytokeratins were evaluated statistically by chi2 tests. The expression of Ck 8/18, Ck 19 and Ck 1 was seen in 3.1% (Ck 8/18), 12.5% (Ck 19), 75.4% (Ck 1) of all leukoplakias, 1.0% (Ck 8/18), 9.4% (Ck 19), 76.8% (Ck 1) in OL, 13.0% (Ck 8/18), 27.3% (Ck 19), 68.4% (Ck 1) in OLD and was significantly associated with the degree of dysplasia (Ck 8/18 p