Comparative study of E‑cadherin expression between reticular, erosive oral lichen planus and lichenoid lesions

Abstract

Background: Accurate and early diagnosis of dysplastic lesions is crucial for successful treatment.
A decrease in E‑cadherin expression has been observed in dysplastic lesions and tumors. Therefore,
the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of E‑cadherin, a cell membrane adhesive
protein involved in tissue structure and differentiation, in oral reticular lichen planus, erosive lichen
planus, and lichenoid lesions.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross‑sectional study was conducted on 65 oral
samples (20 reticular lichen planus, 20 erosive lichen planus, and 20 lichenoid lesions, with 5 samples
of healthy mucosa), to evaluate the expression of E‑cadherin using immunohistochemical methods.
Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 25), descriptive statistics, Chi‑square tests, and
Fisher’s exact tests, with a significance threshold set at P < 0.05.
Results: The majority of patients were female (72.3%) and primarily in the sixth and seventh
decades of life (49.2%). A significant difference was observed between the studied groups regarding
staining status (P = 0.038), with erosive lichen planus showing the highest frequency of alterations
in E‑cadherin expression (45%). In addition, a significant difference was noted between staining
status and lesion location (P = 0.004), with the highest frequency of E‑cadherin expression changes
occurring in buccal mucosal samples (30%).
Conclusion: E‑cadherin expression in erosive lichen planus is significantly lower than in healthy
tissue, reticular lichen planus, and lichenoid lesions. Given the similar reduction observed in
squamous cell carcinoma samples, evaluating E‑cadherin expression may aid in the early recognition
of malignant changes.
Key Words: Cadherins, immunohistochemistry, lichen planus, oral mucosa

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Forooz Keshani: Pubmed,Google Scholar