Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Cancer Stem Cells in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Aldh1a1

The oral mucosal epithelium contains a large reservoir of epithelial stem cells necessary for tissue homeostasis. Practically Oral mucosa is continuously exposed to environmental forces and thus has to be constantly renewed and have higher risk of undergoing mutation and become Cancer stem cells which could be responsible for initiation of Oral squamous cell carcinoma, its relapse, metastasis, chemoresistance and ultimately the death of the patient. However in the present scenario little is known about Cancer stem cells (CSC) in Oral potentially malignant Disorder (OPMD) and Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The present study was designed to detect and quantify the CSCs in OPMD and OSCC. METHODS: Total of 250 samples were collected, out of which 50 samples each were of normal oral mucosa, OPMD with Moderate oral epithelial dysplasia, Well differentiated, Moderately differentiated and Poorly differentiated Oral squamous cell carcinoma. All were subjected to molecular analysis with stem cell marker ALDH1A1. RESULTS: ALDH1A1 expression was found to increase according to progression, from Moderate oral epithelial dysplasia to higher grades of Oral squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Collectively, the results unveil that ALDH1A1 Cancer stem cells is critical for malignant transformation of Oral potentially malignant lesions and for progression of this disease and could be a good prognostic marker.