Immunohistochemical study of proliferative (Ki67, PCNA) and apoptotic (P53) factors of 40 cases of odontogenic keratocysts

Introduction: the odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is one of the most prevalent odontogenic tumours. Since its initial description, a number of studies have focused on different aspects of this lesion, attempting to explain its distinctive biological behavior. Patients and methods: a retrospective immunohistochemical studies of the expression of PCNA, Ki67 and p53 protein in 40 patients treated for OKC. Results: in the OKCs, the positivity of these markers was expressed mostly in the suprabasal layers of cystic epithelium. There is no statistically significant difference of expression between the different clinical forms (sporadic, recurrent and syndromic OKC), neither a correlation between the expression of this markers and recurrence. Conclusion: PCNA, P53 and Ki67 can not be considered as prognostic factors of OKC. © SFMBCB 2011.