S100A7 as a biomarker for predicting transformation in a potentially malignant lesion: lichen planus.
Abstract
Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a potentially malignant disorder that has a malignant transformation rate of approximately 1%. Current management includes incisional biopsy and grading of dysplasia, if present. This may not be a reliable predictive tool for malignant transformation. Tissue biomarkers such as S100A7 may provide a more accurate method of risk determination. The proposed mechanism is an association between S100A7 and the MAPK signalling pathway. Paraffin embedded sections of OLP that progressed and did not progress on serial biopsy were selected. The tissues were stained via S100A7 immunohistochemistry. S100A7 was quantified using an Immunoreactivity score, QuPath and StraticyteÔ. Phosphorylated MAPK proteins and WNT proteins were also evaluated. Based on Pearson correlation coefficients, the Immunoreactivity score correlated well with both StraticyteÔ and Qupath scores. The 3 predictive scores can distinguish Lichen Planus from Normal tissue based on quantification of S100A7, however, S100A7 cannot predict which Lichen Planus lesion might progress to malignancy. Furthermore, the pathway involved in progression of this inflammatory lesion also remains uncertain. Biomarker S100A7 does not aid in the accurate prediction of transformation in Lichen Planus and hence should not be used to guide clinical management.
Keywords: Potentially malignant disorder, Lichen planus, Dysplasia.