The association between epithelial proliferation and disease progression in the oral mucosa

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible association between e pithelial proliferation and disease progression in the oral mucosa. Archiva l specimens of normal oral mucosa (n = 12), dysplasia (n = 17) and squamous cell carcinoma (n = 18) were sectioned and proliferating cells visualised by staining with Ki-67 antibody. The proliferative index of the epithelium (PI) was determined by total cell counts and point counting. Similar result s were obtained using either method. Comparison of the three groups of tiss ues by one-way analysis of variance showed a significant increase in PI wit h increasing lesion severity (p < 0.001). The PI of both dysplasia and carc inoma groups was significantly higher than that of normal oral mucosa (p < 0.001). However, the difference between dysplasia and carcinoma groups was not significant. PI was not associated with tobacco or alcohol consumption. We therefore conclude that Ki-67 expression is an early marker of disease progression in the oral mucosa but, on its own, is not a good indicator of neoplastic transformation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.