Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unlocking the Mysteries of Oral Potential Malignancies
Published on: August 11, 2023
Podoplanin expression as a predictive marker of dysplasia in oral leukoplakia
Davide Bartolomeo Gissi1, Andrea Gabusi1, Achille Tarsitano2
1Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (Head: Prof Lucio Montebugnoli), Section of Oral Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy.
Purpose:
Recent studies have emphasized the role of podoplanin in oral lesions at risk of malignant transformation. We investigated a group of oral leukoplakias (OLs) to determine a possible relation between altered podoplanin expression and dysplasia, and to compare the results with those obtained by other, widely used biomarkers.
Materials And Methods:
The population consisted of 40 consecutive patients with a clinical and histological diagnosis of OL. Thirty-two OLs did not show dysplasia, whereas eight lesions presented with dysplasia. Immunohistochemical expression of podoplanin, p53 and Ki67 was analyzed in all samples.
Results:
All three biomarkers were positive in seven of eight dysplastic OLs. Among the 32 OLs without dysplasia, Ki67 and p53 showed positive values in 21 and 10 samples respectively, whereas podoplanin was positive in only one case. Multiple logistic regression showed that podoplanin was the most powerful variable (Chi square 9.77; p < .01) statistically related to the presence of dysplasia. In addition, podoplanin showed a higher specificity value (96.87%) than Ki67 (34.37%) and p53 (68.75%).
Conclusion:
Podoplanin seems to be a reliable means of discriminating lesions with epithelial dysplasia and could be introduced in routine practice as a marker to discriminate OLs at risk of developing cancer.
Related Concept Videos
Predicting Molecular Geometry
Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
Prediction Intervals
However, the point estimate is most likely not the exact value of the population parameter, but close to it. After calculating point estimates, we construct interval estimates, called confidence intervals or prediction intervals. This prediction interval comprises a range of values unlike the point estimate and is a better predictor of the observed sample value, y.
Sensitivity, Specificity, and Predicted Value
Sensitivity is the...
End Point Prediction: Gran Plot
For potentiometric titration, the Gran plot is created by plotting...
Predicting Reaction Outcomes

