Differentiation Between Benign And Malign Transformed Precancerous Lesions Of The Oral Mucosa With Mage-A-Antigens

Introduction Oral squamous cell carcinoma develops continuously out of pre-damaged oral mucosa. MAGE-A antigens are tumor antigens that are found solely in malignant transformed cells. This study compares MAGE-A expression in benign, precancerous, and cancerous lesions. Material and Methods Biopsies of 26 oral lichen planus, 25 oral ulcers, 13 dental follicles, 26 epulises, 56 leukoplakia (24 with dysplasia), 26 oral dysplasias, and 41 carcinomas in situ were selected. The lesions were immunohistochemically stained with the MAGE-A antibody 57B. Results Biopsies of benign oral lesions showed no positive staining for MAGE-A antigens. Leukoplakia with dysplasia, dysplasia, and carcinomata in situ displayed positive staining in 33%, 65%, and 56% of the cases, respectively. Conclusions MAGE-A antigens were not detectable in benign lesions. The staining rate of dysplastic precancerous lesions or malignant lesions ranged from 33% to 65%. The MAGE-A antigens might facilitate better differentiation between precancerous and cancerous lesions of the oral mucosa.