Immunohistochemical study of osteopontin in oral squamous cell carcinoma allied to fractal dimension.

The aim of the study was to consider a possible correlation between the intensity of expression of osteopontin and grading established by the pathologist. Furthermore, a correlation was investigated between the increase of fractal dimension and osteopontin in order to use this marker as an early and reliable diagnostic tool for the degree of cell transformation in oral squamous carcinoma. Ten histologically healthy oral samples and sixty-four primary oral squamous cell carcinomas specimens were analysed by a single pathologist. Immunohistochemical analysis and Fulgen stain were performed in order to evaluate intensity of expression of osteopontin and fractal dimension. Data obtained were presented as mean and standard deviation and processed for the statistical analysis. Ostepontin expression revealed a statistical significance between groups (P less than 0.001). Fractal dimension in oral squamous cell carcinoma groups vs controls revealed statistically significant differences (P less than 0.001). The fractal dimension value and the osteopontin expression were compared, using two-dimensional scatter. The correlation was relevant in the G3 group. The results demonstrated a correlation between the growths of osteopontin expression and nuclear abnormality measured by fractal dimension. These results support the hypothesis that the level of osteopontin expression might be used as a marker for the evaluation of oral squamous cell carcinoma differentiation. Osteopontin and fractal dimension could support the histological grading to increase the predictability of the diagnosis, choices of treatment procedure and long-term prognosis.