Expression of p16 in oral lichen planus and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objective To study the expression and clinical significance of p16,a novel member of anti-oncogene protein family,in oral lichen planus and oral squamous cell carcinoma.Methods Streptavidin-percocidase immunohistochemical technique(S-P method) was used to detect the expression of p16 protein in 40 cases of OSCC,40 cases of OLP tissues and 26 cases of normal oral mucosa,and their clinical significance was analyzed.Results We found that p16 expressed positively in 22 cases of 26 normal oral mucosa(84.62%),in 21 cases of 40 OLP tissues(52.50%) and in 9 cases of 40 OSCC tissues(22.50%).The expression of p16 were significantly different in three types of tissues(P0.05).The positive expression of p16 had no relation with the differentiation of OSCC tissues.Conclusions p16 gene involves in the transformation of OLP to OSCC.p16 gene is important in the development and progress of OSCC.