Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Expression in Oral Submucous Fibrosis and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Immunohistochemical Study.

Introduction: Growing evidence has shown that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an enzyme capable of catalyzing prostaglandin production, plays a key role in carcinogenesis. Selective COX-2 inhibitors have been shown to reduce the establishment of tumors such as oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and premalignant conditions such oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) in experimental models. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 in OSCC and OSMF with the normal oral mucosa as control.

Expression Pattern of the Cancer Stem Cell Marker "Nestin" in Leukoplakia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine and compare the expression pattern and localization of nestin, in an attempt to explore its role in oral carcinogenesis.

Methods: Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis were performed to study the expression pattern of nestin in normal mucosa, leukoplakia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma samples. Nestin expression was evaluated in the keratinocytes and blood vessels of all the samples and compared with various clinico-pathological parameters.