Immunohistochemical Study of Oral Leukoplakia

Some types of leukoplakia in the oral mucosa develop a malignant change. However, the carcinogenetic process is not clearly understood and the histopathological criteria used for their assessement vary. Thirty cases with oral leukoplakia were investigated pathologically and immunohistopathologically. Immunohistochemical studies examined localization of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), keratin (KER) and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) on oral leukoplakia. The results were as follows : A. Histopathological findings 1) With keratinized area of oral leukoplakia, the incidence of hyperkeratosis was 43.3% (13/30 cases) and incidence of parakeratosis was 46.7% (14/30 cases). 2) The incidence of acanthosis in stratum spinosum was 46.7% (14/30 cases). 3) 8 cases (26.7%) were epithelial dysplasia. B. Immunohistochemical findings 1) CEA, KER and EMA were closely correlated with dyskeratosis of keratinized area in oral leucoplakia. Also, the intension of the staining reactions was correlated with the degree in the keratosis. 2) In stratum spinosum, the reactions of CEA and KER rose with the degree in the keratosis of keratinized area. 3) There were no correlations between the reactions of CEA, KER, and EMA and degree of the epithelial dysplasia. On the basis of the foregoing findings, CEA, KER and EMA demonstrated biological quality with rise in keratinization of oral leukoplakia. It is useful for the parameter of dyskeratosis.