Immunohistochemical Evaluation of P۵۳ and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Proteins Expression Levels in Gingival Tissue of Opium-dependent Patients

Background: Although evidence indicates that tobacco use is one of the risk factors for oral cancer, the relationship between opium addiction and oral cancer has not yet been evaluated. The present study was performed aiming to evaluate P۵۳ and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in the gingival tissue of opium-dependent patients.Methods: ۱۰۲ individuals (۷۰ men and ۳۲ women) were entered in the study. ۶۳ and ۳۹ individuals were included in the opium-dependent group and opium-independent group (control group), respectively.  ۱ gingival biopsy was taken from each individual. The biopsies were fixed in ۱۰% buffered formaldehyde solution and embedded in paraffin at ۵۶  ̊C. The slides were then stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (H & E) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) evaluation was performed with the antihuman antibodies of P۵۳ and EGFR. The protein expression level was later assessed and data were analyzed statistically.Findings: P۵۳ expression was higher among the opium-dependent group, however the difference was not statistically significant (P = ۰.۰۵۲). EGFR expression was significantly higher among the opium-dependent group compared to the control group (P = ۰.۰۰۶).Conclusion: Opium dependency significantly affects EGFR expression in gingival tissue, however it seems to have no significant effect on P۵۳ expression.

کلیدواژه ها:

Opium ، oral cancer ، P۵۳ genes ، EGFR genes