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. 2014 May;18(2):169-76.
doi: 10.4103/0973-029X.140729.

Expression of Ki-67 in normal oral epithelium, leukoplakic oral epithelium and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Smita Shrishail Birajdar  1 , Mb Radhika  2 , K Paremala  2 , M Sudhakara  2 , M Soumya  2 , Mohsin Gadivan  2
Affiliations

Expression of Ki-67 in normal oral epithelium, leukoplakic oral epithelium and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Smita Shrishail Birajdar et al. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2014 May.

Abstract

Aims and objective: To demonstrate the presence, location and pattern of cell proliferation in different histological grades of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and normal oral epithelium (NOE) using an antibody directed against the Ki-67 antigen and its intensity of staining evaluated respectively.

Materials and methods: A total number of 100 archival paraffin embedded blocks obtained from Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology were studied. The case details were retrieved which consisted of histopathologically diagnosed cases of OSCC (n = 20), low risk OED (n = 30), high risk OED (n = 30) and normal appearing mucosa (n = 20) were taken as standard for comparison. Ki-67 immunostaining was detected. Ki-67 positive cells were counted in the five random high power fields in each case.

Results: Ki-67 labeling Index (LI) was restricted to the basal and parabasal layers of the normal oral epithelium irrespective of age, sex and site whereas it was seen in the basal, suprabasal and spinous layers in OED. Ki-67 LI is increased in high risk cases than the low risk cases of OED. Ki-67 positive cells in OSCC were located in the periphery of the tumor nests than the center, where frequent mitoses were observed.

Conclusion: The architectural alteration evaluated by Ki-67 antibody in proliferating cell distribution in the layers of epithelial dysplasias may provide useful information to evaluate the grading of OED. Ki-67 LI increased in high risk cases than low risk cases of OED. This study showed that over expression of Ki-67 antigen between well-differentiated and poorly differentiated OSCC was in accordance with histologic grade of malignancy but not in accordance with moderately differentiated OSCC.

Keywords: Cell proliferation; Ki-67 LI (Labeling Index); Oral epithelial dysplasia; Oral squamous cell carcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Photomicrograph showing (a) Normal oral mucosal epithelium, (b) Low risk oral epithelial dysplasia(OED), (c) High risk OED, (d) Well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, (e) Moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and (f) Poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (H&E stain, ×100)
Figure 2
Figure 2
a and b: Photomicrograph showing Ki-67 expression in normal oral mucosa seen in basal and parabasal layer (IHC stain, ×400)
Graph 1
Graph 1
Comparison of Ki-67 in normal oral epithelium, oral epithelial dysplasia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma cases
Figure 3
Figure 3
a and b: Photomicrograph showing Ki-67 expression in low risk oral epithelial dysplasia seen in basal, parabasal and spinous layer (IHC stain, ×400)
Figure 4
Figure 4
a and b: Photomicrograph showing Ki-67 expression in high risk oral epithelial dysplasia seen in the parabasal as well as superficial spinous layers of the epithelium (IHC stain, ×400)
Graph 2
Graph 2
Comparison of Ki-67 in low risk and high risk oral epithelial dysplasia cases
Figure 5
Figure 5
a and b: Photomicrograph showing Ki-67 expression in well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma seen at peripheral area of tumor islands. Few mitotic figures are also seen (IHC stain, ×400)
Figure 6
Figure 6
a and b: Photomicrograph showing Ki-67 expression in poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma is scattered and diffuse throughout the tumor islands with mitotic figure (IHC stain, ×400)
Graph 3
Graph 3
Comparison of Ki-67 in Well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma cases
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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