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Immunoexpression of glucocorticoid receptor alpha ( GR α) isoform and apoptotic proteins (Bcl‐2 and Bax) in actinic cheilitis and lower lip squamous cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Sena Luana Samara Balduíno,
Silveira Éricka Janine Dantas,
Batista Aline Carvalho,
Mendonça Elismauro Francisco,
Alves Pollianna Muniz,
aka Cassiano Francisco Weege
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/jop.12757
Subject(s) - apoptosis , carcinogenesis , cytoplasm , pathology , staining , immunohistochemistry , cancer research , metastasis , glucocorticoid receptor , malignancy , biology , cancer , medicine , glucocorticoid , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
Background Actinic cheilitis ( AC ) is a potentially malignant disorder that can progress to squamous cell carcinoma ( SCC ), but this process is not fully understood. This study evaluated the immunoexpression of glucocorticoid receptor alpha ( GR α) isoform and apoptotic proteins ( Bcl ‐2 and Bax ) in AC and lower lip SCC ( LLSCC ). Methods Twenty‐two AC and 44 LLSCC s (22 with regional nodal metastasis and 22 without metastasis) were selected. The percentages of nuclear ( GR α) and cytoplasmic ( GR α, Bcl‐2, and Bax) staining in epithelial cells were assessed and correlated with clinical (tumor size/extent and clinical stage) and histopathological parameters (risk of malignant transformation for AC and histopathological grade of malignancy for LLSCC s). Results Expression of GR α was observed in all cases studied, with relatively high median percentages of positive staining. When compared to AC , LLSCC s exhibited lower nuclear expression and higher cytoplasmic expression of GR α ( P < 0.05). Regarding clinicopathological parameters, significant differences were only found for cytoplasmic expression of GR α according to the histopathological grade of LLSCC s ( P = 0.036). Higher expression of Bax compared to Bcl‐2 was observed in AC and LLSCC s ( P < 0.05). In LLSCC s, there was a positive correlation between nuclear and cytoplasmic expressions of GR α ( P = 0.006). Conclusion Reduced nuclear translocation and increased cytoplasmic expression of GR α may be important events in lip carcinogenesis but are not involved in the progression of LLSCC . The role of GR α in lip cancer development does not seem to be primarily related to modulations in the expression of Bcl‐2 or Bax.