Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Expression and Incidence of Cystic Changes in Asymptomatic Dental Follicles in Smoking Patients
Author(s): Müge AKSOY, Timuçin Baykul, Semra ÃÂzarslan, Kayhan Baà Âak
Abstract
Background: Smoking is a well-known predisposing factor for pathological changes in oral tissues. Epithelial proliferation due to smoking is caused by the increased expression and activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is a protooncogen.
Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) expression and intensity and the incidence of histologically diagnosed cystic changes in asymptomatic impacted lower third molar (ILTM) follicles of smoking and non-smoking patients.
Materials and Methods: A hundred dental follicles obtained from asymptomatic ILTMs were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically using antibody against EGFR. After initial microscopic analyses, 18 specimens were excluded from the study because of lack of epithelium. The final EGFR expression intensity score of samples was determined by multiplying the percentage of positively stained cells by the staining intensity.
Results: Cystic changes were detected with microscopic evaluation. In the smoking group, the relation between EGFR scores and cystic changes were found statistically significant (p<0.05). The relation of age and EGFR scores that showed cystic changes in the smoking group was also found statistically significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Asymptomatic ILTMs of the smoker patients may be suspected for the higher possibility of cystic changes compared with the nonsmokers. Smoking may be considered as a factor for the decision of removal of an asymptomatic ILTM.