Evaluation of P53 and P63 expression and their correlation with HPV virus in oral dysplastic lesions

Squamous cell carcinoma comprises approximately 94% of all the oral cavity malignancies. P53 is considered an indicator of malignant transformations and P63 can play an important role in epithelial dysplastic changes. In addition, HPV is associated with early stages of cancer development in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to evaluate P53 and P63 expression and their correlation with the presence of HPV in oral dysplastic lesions. In this descriptive-analytical study forty paraffin blocks were collected, which included thirty samples with histopathologic reports of dysplastic lesions (mild, moderate, severe) and ten with a diagnosis of mucocele. Immunohistochemical staining with Envision method was performed for P53 and P63 markers and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used for detection of HPV virus. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS software and Kruskul-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U and Spearman tests (α = 0.05). In this study the nuclear P53 and P63 staining was predominant in the basal/parabasal layers of the epithelium. There was a significant difference in P53 staining only between mucocele and mild dysplasia (p value < 0.05). A significant difference in P63 staining was observed between mucocele and all the dysplastic lesions (mild, moderate, and severe) (p value < 0.05). Human papilloma virus was detected in all the groups, with no significant differences between them (p value > 0.05). Based on the results of the present study there was no statistically significant correlation between P53 and P63 expression and presence of HPV virus in oral dysplastic lesions; however, there was a significant correlation between P53 and P63 intensity and expression in the two layers.