Chromosomal Numerical Aberrations in Oral Lichen Planus

Abstract

The malignant potential of oral lichen planus (OLP) has been a matter of serious controversy. We aimed to detect chromosomal numerical aberrations in cells of brush samples collected from affected mucosa. The samples were simultaneously analyzed for morphology and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with chromosomes 2 and 8 centromeric probes. We analyzed 57 persons with OLP and 33 control individuals. A cut-off value of aneuploid cells was determined as 1.1%. Aneuploid cells were found in 16 persons with OLP (28.1%); in 10 individuals (17.5%), over 5% of the cells were aneuploid. Aneuploid cells were also detected in normal-looking mucosa of seven persons with OLP. One person with OLP developed squamous cell carcinoma; 10% of the cells examined were aneuploid. OLP carries an increased risk for chromosomal instability. Identifying aneuploid cells in a brush sample and the combined morphological and FISH analysis can increase the specificity in predicting the malignant potential of OLP.

Noninvasive detection of aneuploid cells in laryngeal epithelial precursor lesions

“…Nevertheless, as a noninvasive technique that can augment the clinical examination in predicting the nature of lesions without the need for a biopsy, this method has potentially significant clinical benefits. In the current study and in our previous studies in oral mucosa, [20][21][22] we observed a high correlation between the simultaneous morphology and FISH analysis method and the gold-standard histopathologic diagnosis. Thus, we believe that this method has potential as a powerful tool for clinicians to monitor and follow highrisk patients and can help avoid unnecessary surgical interventions.…”

“…[20][21][22] The results also suggested that the presence of numerical aberrations in cells obtained by brush samples predicts the malignant behavior of a suspicious oral lesion. [20][21][22] The objective of the current study was to evaluate the presence of chromosomal numerical aberrations in cells that were collected by noninvasive brush sampling from laryngeal lesions using simultaneous morphologic and FISH analyses. The results were investigated for a correlation with the accepted gold-standard histopathologic diagnosis.…”

“…29,30 Chromosome 8, chromosome 17, and MYC were chosen for the current analysis based on the literature and our previous studies. [20][21][22][23]25,31 Chromosome 8 is the site of several genes that have crucial functions in the tumorigenesis of several solid and hematopoietic malignancies.…”

“…Chromosome 8 was analyzed successfully to detect ACs in premalignant and malignant lesions in the oral mucosa. 20,21 Gains of chromosomes 8 and 17 reportedly are altered in LSCC, 18,24,25 and 8q was the most common arm gain. 26,27 These chromosomal probes can disclose numerical as well as structural aberrations; for example, 3 signals of 8q can be detected even if the centromeric 8 probe yields 2 signals (ie, gains of the MYC gene, which is located on 8q24).…”

“…The technical procedure was described in detail in our previous publications. [20][21][22] FISH was performed using alpha satellite probes for chromosomes 17 and 8 and a locus-specific instability (LSI) v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (myc) proto-oncogene protein (C-MYC) probe for the MYC gene. Two slides from each sample were used.…”