Comparison of Immunohistochemical Expression of Antiapoptotic Protein Survivin in Normal Oral Mucosa, Oral Leukoplakia, and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Background. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most frequent malignant tumor worldwide and the third most common cancers in developing countries. Oral leukoplakia is the best-known precursor lesion of oral squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to compare immunohistochemical expression of antiapoptotic protein survivin in normal oral mucosa, oral leukoplakia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Method. Total 45 specimens of formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks, 15 in each of the following: normal oral mucosa, leukoplakia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma were used for the study. Immunohistochemical reaction for survivin protein was performed for the 4 µm thick histological sections taken on positively charged slides. Results. 20% normal mucosa cases, 53.33% cases of leukoplakia, and 80% of oral squamous cell carcinoma were found out to be survivin positive. One way ANOVA test indicated statistically significant difference of survivin expression between the three different groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion. A high incidence of survivin protein expression in oral epithelial dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma samples indicate that survivin protein expression may be an early event in initiation and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Evaluation and Expression of Survivin in Potentially Malignant Lesions and Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Comparative Study

“…Thus, we postulate that during the development of oral cancer, survivin might accumulate within the involved tissue at an early stage. These results were similar to the study conducted by Negi et al in 2015, indicating that a high incidence of survivin protein expression in oral epithelial dysplasia may be an early event in carcinogenesis [5]. The putative predictive value of survivin was also reported by Lo Muzio et al, where a higher rate of positive samples among lesions evolving into SCC compared with lesions not evolving was shown [15].…”

“…Oral carcinoma is the most common cancer of the head and neck region. The five-year survival rate for oral SCC is only 35% to 50% despite the advanced treatment therapy and the emergence of aggressive chemotherapy regimens [5]. One of the major causes of the unfavorable prognosis of cancer of the oral cavity is the inability to detect the disease at an early stage and its subsequent progression.…”

Expression of survivin in oral potentially malignant disorders: An immunohistochemical study

“…This was comparatively higher, as earlier reports had survivin immunopositivity in the range of 33%–65% for OL. [ 13 14 15 16 ] The immunoreactivity varied from mild to moderate with a single case of histopathologically confirmed carcinoma in situ (CIS) demonstrating stronger expression. Gayathri and Rao[ 17 ] demonstrated a progressive increase in survivin expression based on predominant staining pattern and histological grading.…”

Prognostic Implication of Survivin Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma—An Immunohistochemical Study

“…11 In contrast to our findings, few studies have reported mild nuclear and cytoplasmic expression among sporadic cells of basal and parabasal layers. 15,16 However, Negi et al 17 had observed survivin positivity in almost 20% of normal tissue specimens due to high proliferative capacity of the tissues. It was established that survivin immunoexpression in normal cells was due to the presence of active mitotic cells.…”