Heat shock protein (HSP70) as a marker of epithelial dysplasia in oral dysplastic lesions: A clinicopathological study

Abstract

Abstract
Background: Heat shock proteins (HSPs), particularly HSP70, play a crucial role in
cellular stress responses and have been implicated in the development and progression of
various cancers. This study aims to evaluate the expression of HSP70 as a marker of
epithelial dysplasia in oral dysplastic lesions.
Materials and Methods: A total of 50 patients with clinically and histologically confirmed
oral dysplastic lesions were included in this study. Biopsy samples were collected and
subjected to immunohistochemical staining to detect HSP70 expression. The intensity and
distribution of HSP70 staining were evaluated and correlated with the degree of epithelial
dysplasia. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.
Results: HSP70 expression was observed in 80% of mild dysplasia, 90% of moderate
dysplasia, and 100% of severe dysplasia cases. The intensity of HSP70 staining increased
with the severity of dysplasia, with mean staining intensities of 1.2 ± 0.4, 2.4 ± 0.5, and 3.8
± 0.3 for mild, moderate, and severe dysplasia, respectively (p < 0.01). A significant
correlation was found between HSP70 expression and the degree of epithelial dysplasia,
suggesting that higher HSP70 levels are associated with more severe dysplastic changes.
Conclusion: HSP70 is significantly overexpressed in oral dysplastic lesions and its
expression correlates with the severity of epithelial dysplasia. HSP70 could serve as a
valuable biomarker for assessing the progression of dysplasia in oral lesions, potentially
aiding in early detection and targeted therapeutic interventions.
Keywords: Heat shock protein 70, HSP70, epithelial dysplasia, oral dysplastic lesions,
biomarker, immunohistochemistry, clinicopathological study.