The expression of p16, p53 and Ki-67 protein in epithelial dysplasia from oral mucosa and a follow-up study of four years

Objective:To study the relationship between the malignant transformation of oral epithelial dysplasia and the expression of p16, p53 and Ki-67 proteins.Method:The expression of p16, p53 and Ki-67 proteins was determined from 43 cases of oral epithelial dysplasia and 20 normal oral mucosa tissue by immunihistochemistry,and a follow-up study of four years was made.Result:In normal epithelium, Ki-67 express was only observed in a small number of cells, and no expression of p53, p16 expression was 100%. In mild epithelial dysplasia, Ki-67 and p53 had low express, express rate of p16 was 86.96%. In sever epithelial dysplasia, there were a number of positive cell of p53 and Ki-67, expression of p16 was significantly decreased.there is a co-relationship between the malignant transformation and mutation of p53 ,ki-67 and p16 in the cases of oral epithelial dysplasia.Conclusion: Carcinogenesis of oral mucosa is a continuous and stepwise course, p16, p53, Ki-67 genes may play an important role in this course. .