HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF CYTOKERATIN 17 EXPRESSION IN ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA – A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most widely occurring cancers, the incidence of which is highest in India, South and Southeast Asian countries. In India, 20 per 100,000 population are affected and over 5 people die every hour because of it. Studies have highlighted the role of tumor markers like CK17 in OSCC and its importance in prognosis. It might be a suitable biomarker for postulating newer treatment strategies.  Hence this study is undertaken to evaluate the histopathological features of OSCC and the association of CK17 expression with prognostic factors like tumour stage, grade and lymphatic metastasis. Objective 1. To evaluate the histopathological features of oral squamous cell carcinoma. 2. To evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of CK17 in oral squamous cell carcinoma and to correlate its expression with pathological prognostic factors like tumor grade, stage and lymph node metastasis. Methods This study was conducted on radical resection specimens of OSCC in the Department of Pathology, Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, Bengaluru for 2 years. Relevant clinical data were collected from patient files. Tumor morphology and CK17 immunohistochemical staining were studied and correlated with significant findings in each case. Results The study included 55 cases of OSCC with male-to-female ratio of 1.6: 1. Mean age was 55.64 years. Most of them were in buccal mucosa (54.4%).  Majority were moderately differentiated (50.9%) and presented in an advanced stage. All cases of OSCC (100%) showed CK17 positivity.  High CK17 expression was seen in well-differentiated OSCC (80%). Significant association was seen with increasing expression of CK17 and decreasing grade of tumors. Conclusion This study provides information about CK17 expression in OSCC which is a little underexplored marker for OSCC. Among the several studies conducted for the same worldwide, very few are done in India, one of the reasons for carrying out this research.