Predictive value of p63, ki-67, and survivin expression in oral leukoplakia: A tissue microarray study

The aim of this study was to analyze the immunohistochemical expression of survivin, ki-67, and p63 in oral leukoplakic lesions, histopathologically differentiated into dysplastic and nondysplastic. A tissue microarray containing 57 samples of biopsies from clinically classified lesions, such as leukoplakia, was immunolabeled for survivin, ki-67, and p63. Samples were scored for percentage of positively stained. Scores were designated as follows: low = less than 25% of positive cells; and high = more than 25% of positive cells. On performing histopathological diagnosis, 20 dysplastic lesions and 37 nondysplastic lesions were seen, in which female patients (56.1%) were predominant with an average age of 58.27 years. The study showed a high expression of 37.5% for survivin, 43.7% for ki-67, and 88.2% for p63 in dysplastic lesions. However, there was a high expression of 16.7% for survivin, 16.7% for ki-67, and 92% for p63 in nondysplastic lesions. There is a positive correlation of expression among the three antibodies. In the association of immunoreactivity, in both dysplastic and nondysplastic lesions, increased expression of survivin reflects on the increased expression of ki-67, and there is an overexpression of p63. In leukoplakia, the expression of survivin associated with that of ki-67 reinforces the assumption that all these lesions are potentially malignant, regardless of histopathology; and the overexpression of p63 may indicate carcinogenic potential. These findings may help in the treatment of patients with this type of lesion.