Comparing the Immuno-Expression of Endothelial Markers in Normal Oral Mucosa, Oral Epithelial Dysplasia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Relationship between E-Cadherin, Vimentin, CD31, CD117 and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the expression of E-cadherin, Vimentin, CD31, CD117 in Oral Epithelial Dysplasia (OED) and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), in comparison with Normal Oral Mucosa (NOM). Material and Methods: Descriptive case study. Histological samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry against E-cadherin, Vimentin, CD31, CD117. E-cadherin expression was evaluated by extent and intensity, Vimentin was evaluated by intensity and CD31 and C117 quantitatively. Results: The extent of E-cadherin was greater than 75% in all NOM samples, 81% of the OED samples and 47% of the OSCC samples. The intensity of E-cadherin was high in NOM (100%) and in OSCC (36%). Mean CD31 was 21.2 ± 5 in NOM samples, 23.4 ± 5.8 in OED samples and 36.7 ± 10.8 in OSCC samples. Mean CD117 was 7.2 ± 2.5 in NOM samples, 12.8 ± 5.3 in OED samples and 22.7 ± 5.3 in OSCC samples. Conclusion: The molecular marker E-cadherin is significantly more downregulated in dysplastic cells in comparison to NOM cells, while the mesenchymal marker Vimentin is expressed by epithelial cells in samples of NOM, OED and OSCC; questioning their value as prognostic markers. Finally, the quantification of CD31 and CD117 increased significantly in OSCC samples.