Histopathological and immunohistochemical study of malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia, with special reference to apoptosis-related gene products and proliferative activity

Abstract

The frequent expression of Bcl-2 in oral leukoplakia with malignant transformation combined with the reduction in the number of apoptotic cells indicated that malignancy occurred as a result of the avoidance of apoptosis. In addition, high levels of Bax expression in oral leukoplakia without malignant transformation indicated that the Bcl family may play a role in the progression of the disease.