Pten Expression And Its Protential Role In Oral Leukoplakia And Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of PTEN in oral leukoplakia(OLK),oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)and the health control,and find whether PTEN play an important role in the progression of OLK carcinogenesis to OSCC.Methods and materials: A total of 60 samples were collected in this study,Western blotting,qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the expression of PTEN in OSCC(n=20),OLK(n=20)and normal oral tissue samples(n=20).The relationship between OSCC clinical pathology and PTEN expression was also analyzed.Results:1?The protein and mRNA of PTEN was significantly downregulated in OLK and OSCC compared with normal health tissue(P<0.05).The expression of PTEN in OLK increased compared with OSCC(P<0.05).PTEN was mainly identified in cytoplasm within yellow or brown stain.2?Statistically signicant difference was present between OLK without dysplasia and OLK with mild or moderate dysplasia(P < 0.05).3 ? The patients without lymph metastasis exhibited significantly increased expression of PTEN compared with those with lymph metastasis(P<0.05).4?The expression of PTEN was higher in well-differentiated tumors than moderate differentiated and undifferentiated tisues(P<0.05).5?There were no significant differences in the protein levels of PTEN from different positions of the tumors and among the patients from different age and sex(P>0.05).Conclusion:1?PTEN is abnormally expressed in OSCC tissues to some extent,and it maybe a key factor in tumorgenesis,invasion and migration of OSCC.2?PTEN can be used as a biomarker for early oral tumorigenesis and malignant transformation risk assessment of premalignant lesions,it maybe a novel therapeutic target against OSCC.