Immunohistochemical expression of pericytes and myofibroblasts in the extracellular matrix of oral actinic cheilitis and squamous cell carcinoma: a comparative study

摘要

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to conduct a comparative analysis of oral actinic cheilitis?and squamous cell carcinomas by immunohistochemical analysis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilizes a convenience sample obtained from the archives?of an oral pathology laboratory from a higher education institution. Tissue sections from patients?diagnosed with actinic cheilitis and carcinoma were immunohistochemically analyzed using?monoclonal antibodies specific for smooth muscle alpha actin (SMA) and neuron-glial antigen 2?(NG2). Individual cells that stained positive for these proteins were counted in specific fields by?means of histomorphometry. RESULTS: Subsequent statistical analysis revealed a higher number of NG2-positive when compared?with SMA-positive cells in both lesion types (p = 0.005) and these cells were located adjacent to blood?vessels. The differences between normal oral mucosa, severe dysplasia, and carcinoma specimens?were statistically significant (p = 0.009; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: These data strongly suggest that increased expression of NG2- and SMA-positive?cells is associated with formation of blood capillaries, highlighting the importance of angiogenesis?in tumor progression.