Orthokeratinization-Related Factors in the Oral Dysplasia-Squamous Cell Carcinoma Sequences

OBJECTIVE: Keratin (K) 10-positive (+) orthokeratotic epithelial dysplasia (OKD) of the oral mucosa is one of the background conditions of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We wanted to profile keratinization-related factors in those lesions to examine how the K10+ phenotype is processed during the oral cancinogenetic pathway. STUDY DESIGN:We performed immunohistochemistry in surgical materials from oral dysplasia-carcinoma sequence lesions. Oral SCC cell lines were also investigated by immunofluorescence, western blotting, and PCR.