Immunohistochemical Assessment of EGFR Expression in Oral Submucous Fibrosis - A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic disorder characterized by fibrosis of the lining mucosa of the upper digestive tract involving the oral cavity, oropharynx and frequently the upper third of the oesophagus. In India, OSMF affects between 0–2% and 1.2% of an urban population attending dental clinics.1 There is a positive association between the incidence of leukoplakia and oral cancer with OSMF. The frequency of malignant change has been reported from 3% to 6%. In a long-term follow-up study, the annual malignant transformation rate was approximately 0.5% or 7.6% over 17 years. Material and methodology: A total of 18 participants clinically diagnosed with OSMF were histopathologically categorised in two groups : with and without epithelial dysplasia. Furthermore biopsy tissue from each participant was subjected to immunohistochemistry for EGFR expression. EGFR expression was correlated to dysplasia and compared within two groups. Results : EGFR was over expressed in OSMF with dysplasia. A statistically significant difference was seen in the expression of EGFR in dysplastic cases compared to that of non dysplastic cases (p<0.001). Conclusion: On performing immunohistochemistry, EGFR expression was observed to be positive in all 18(100%) samples. A statistically significant difference was seen in the expression of EGFR in dysplastic cases compared to that of non dysplastic cases in OSMF (p<0.001).