Evaluation of epithelial-mesenchymal markers and correlation with clinical aspects in keratocyst lesions
Author(s): Joana Leticia Vendruscolo, Mariana de Souza Lessa, Sergio Ossamu Ioshii, Juliana Lucena Schussel and Laurindo Moacir Sassi*
Abstract
Objective
Odontogenic keratocysts (OK) have a high recurrence rate and aggressive clinical behavior. The event called epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process in which the epithelial cell loses its epithelial characteristics and acquires properties typical of mesenchymal cells. Studies have already demonstrated that OC has expression of tumor markers, but the lack of clarification about its development mechanism and molecular composition makes the therapeutic options remain limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of EMT marker proteins in these lesions, correlating the expression of these proteins with clinical aspects of each case.
Method
Patients with OK diagnoses, treated by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Brazil in the period between 2016 and 2019 were evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis, to assess the expression of EMT markers (Vimentin, beta-catenin and E-cadherin).
Results
Eighteen patients were included, with a mean age of 43 years, and most of them were male. The mandible was more affected than the maxilla. No association between the clinical characteristics of the cysts and the immunohistochemical profile for EMT proteins was observed.
Conclusion
Even though it is a benign lesion, OK is associated with severe complications. For this reason, the study of markers that allow a better understanding of its biological behavior is important for the best management of the patient.