Assessment of c-Jun, c-Fos and cyclin D1 in premalignant and malignant oral lesions

• Published in: Journal of Oral Science 2005, Vol.47(2), pp.71-76
• Main Authors: Turatti, Eveline, Neves, Adriana da Costa, Marina Helena Cury Gallottini de Magalhães, Suzana Orsini Machado de Sousa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AP-1 proteins; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Biomarkers, Tumor - biosynthesis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - chemistry; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - chemistry; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - metabolism; cyclin D1; Cyclin D1 - analysis; Cyclin D1 - biosynthesis; Dentistry; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Leukoplakia, Oral - chemistry; Leukoplakia, Oral - metabolism; Mouth Mucosa - chemistry; Mouth Mucosa - metabolism; oral squamous cell carcinomas; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - analysis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - biosynthesis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos - analysis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos - biosynthesis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun - analysis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun - biosynthesis; Tongue Neoplasms - chemistry; Tongue Neoplasms - metabolism; Transcription Factor AP-1 - metabolism
• ISSN: 1343-4934; 1880-4926
• DOI: 10.2334/josnusd.47.71

Some oral cancers are known to develop from dysplastic oral epithelium. In the present study, the expression of c-Jun, c-Fos, and cyclin D1 proteins in oral epithelial lesions with different degrees of dysplasia, and in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) was evaluated. Eighteen cases of mild dysplasia, 23 cases of moderate to severe dysplasia and 24 OSCCs were studied immunohistochemically. Additionally, 15 sections of oral mucosa without any evidence of dysplasia were included in the study. Results: c-Jun expression increased according to the degree of oral dysplasia, with the greatest expression found in OSCC. c-Fos expression was intense in normal mucosa, reduced in mild dysplasia and high in moderate to severe dysplasia and in OSCCs. Cyclin D1 was expressed in only a few cases of moderate to severe dysplasia and in most of the OSCCs. Statistical analysis showed a correlation between the three proteins and the degree of epithelial alteration. The present results indicate a possible role of c-Jun and c-Fos in malignant transformation of oral mucosa. (J. Oral Sci. 47, 71-76, 2005)