Is OLP potentially malignant? A clue from ZNF582 methylation

• Published in: Oral diseases 2023-04, Vol.29 (3), p.1282-1290
• Main Authors: Chiu, Yu‐Wei, Su, Yee‐Fun, Yang, Cheng‐Chieh, Liu, Chung‐Ji, Chen, Yi‐Ju, Cheng, Han‐Chieh, Wu, Cheng‐Hsien, Chen, Pei‐Yin, Lee, Yu‐Hsien, Chen, Yen‐Lin, Chen, Yi‐Tzu, Peng, Chih‐Yu, Lu, Ming‐Yi, Yu, Chuan‐Hang, Kao, Shou‐Yen, Fwu, Chyng‐Wen, Huang, Yu‐Feng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Case-Control Studies; Cigarette smoking; DNA methylation; Dysplasia; field cancerization; Humans; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors - genetics; Lesions; Lichen planus; Lichen Planus, Oral - genetics; Lichen Planus, Oral - pathology; Methylation; Mouth Neoplasms - genetics; Mouth Neoplasms - pathology; Mucosa; oral lichen planus; oral potentially malignant disorder; Squamous cell carcinoma; zinc finger protein 582
• ISSN: 1354-523X; 1601-0825
• DOI: 10.1111/odi.14120

Objective Whether oral lichen planus (OLP) was potentially malignant remains controversial. Here, we examined associations of ZNF582 methylation (ZNF582m) with OLP lesions, dysplastic features and squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and Methods This is a case–control study. ZNF582m was evaluated in both lesion and adjacent normal sites of 42 dysplasia, 90 OSCC and 43 OLP patients, whereas ZNF582m was evaluated only in one mucosal site of 45 normal controls. High‐risk habits affecting ZNF582m such as betel nut chewing and cigarette smoking were also compared in those groups. Results OLP lesions showed significantly lower ZNF582m than those of dysplasia and OSCC. At adjacent normal mucosa, ZNF582m increased from patients of OLP, dysplasia, to OSCC. In addition, ZNF582m at adjacent normal sites in OLP patients was comparable to normal mucosa in control group. Dysplasia/OSCC patients with high‐risk habits exhibited significantly higher ZNF582m than those without high‐risk habits. However, ZNF582m in OLP patients was not affected by those high‐risk habits. Conclusions OLP is unlikely to be potentially malignant based on ZNF582m levels. ZNF582m may also be a potential biomarker for distinguishing OLP from true dysplastic features and OSCC, and for monitoring the malignant transformation of OLP, potentially malignant disorders with dysplastic features and OSCC.