Serum E-Cadherin level in various clinical variants of oral potentially pre-malignant disorders

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the serum level of E-cadherin in clinical variants of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs). METHODS: This comparative cross-sectional study included eighty patients with OPMDs of Pakistani nationality, spanning all ages and both genders. Exclusion criteria encompassed cases that presented with squamous cell carcinoma and other non-OPMD pathologies. Age, gender, place of residence, lesion site, noxious habits, and habit duration were documented for all participants. The type of OPMDs was diagnosed by oral and maxillofacial surgeon and histopathologist. ELISA method was used for analysis of soluble E-cadherin levels in serum. Serum level of E-cadherin among various OPMDs were compared through One-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Majority (n=64; 80%) of participants were using Snuff/Chewable tobacco and 12 (15%) were smokers. Leukoplakia (n=40; 50%) and Lichen Planus (n=28; 35%) were the common lesions and buccal mucosa (n=36; 45%) was the commonest site of lesion. Mean duration of lesion was 1.39±1.24 years. Mean E-cadherin was 26.34±3.67 ng/dl. The highest level of E-cadherin was found in carcinoma in-situ (32.0±2.33 ng/dl), oral submucous fibrosis (29.8±1.33 ng/dl) and Leukoplakia (26.7±3.11 ng/dl) and least in lichen planus (23.8±2.60 ng/dl) [p<0.001]. Post-hoc analysis showed statistically significant differences among various OPMDs (p<0.001) except between oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and Leukoplakia (p=.108). CONCLUSION: The expression of serum E-cadherin level is more in invasive OPMDs than less invasive OPMDs. These findings underscore the potential utility of E-cadherin as a biomarker for OPMD progression and prognosis. Further investigations are needed to explore the clinical implications and therapeutic relevance of these observed variations.

Keywords

• cadherins
• e-cadherin
• oral premalignant disorder
• leukoplakia
• oral submucous fibrosis
• lichen planus