Is OLP potentially malignant? A clue from ZNF582 methylation.

Objective: Whether oral lichen planus (OLP) was potentially malignant remains controversial. Here, we examined associations of ZNF582 methylation (ZNF582 ) with OLP lesions, dysplastic features and squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Materials And Methods: This is a case-control study. ZNF582 was evaluated in both lesion and adjacent normal sites of 42 dysplasia, 90 OSCC and 43 OLP patients, whereas ZNF582 was evaluated only in one mucosal site of 45 normal controls. High-risk habits affecting ZNF582 such as betel nut chewing and cigarette smoking were also compared in those groups.

Results: OLP lesions showed significantly lower ZNF582 than those of dysplasia and OSCC. At adjacent normal mucosa, ZNF582 increased from patients of OLP, dysplasia, to OSCC. In addition, ZNF582 at adjacent normal sites in OLP patients was comparable to normal mucosa in control group. Dysplasia/OSCC patients with high-risk habits exhibited significantly higher ZNF582 than those without high-risk habits. However, ZNF582 in OLP patients was not affected by those high-risk habits.

Conclusions: OLP is unlikely to be potentially malignant based on ZNF582 levels. ZNF582 may also be a potential biomarker for distinguishing OLP from true dysplastic features and OSCC, and for monitoring the malignant transformation of OLP, potentially malignant disorders with dysplastic features and OSCC.