Microbial dysbiosis and tumor biomarker expression in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma: A quantitative polymerase chain reaction‐based immunohistochemical study

Vollständiger Abstract

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Abstract Porphyromonas gingivalis is a major periodontal pathogen increasingly associated with oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) due to its role in microbial dysbiosis and carcinogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the relative abundance of P. gingivalis in healthy controls, OL, and OSCC patients and to correlate the bacterial load with immunohistochemical (IHC) markers. A total of 48 oral swab samples were collected from three study groups: (1) healthy, (2) OL, and (3) OSCC. Quantitative PCR was performed to assess the relative abundance of P. gingivalis in these groups. Immunohistochemistry was done to analyze the expression of Ki‐67, Bcl‐2, and β‐catenin in 32 formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue of OL and OSCC. The mean cycle threshold value of P. gingivalis was 23.82, 23.57, and 22.05 in healthy, OL, and OSCC, respectively, indicating a higher abundance of the bacterium in OSCC. IHC analysis revealed increased Ki‐67 and Bcl‐2 expression in OSCC. Additionally, β‐catenin exhibited a shift from membranous in OL to cytoplasmic/nuclear localization in OSCC, suggesting its role in cancer progression. No significant correlation was observed between bacterial abundance and IHC marker expression. This study highlights the significant presence of P. gingivalis in OSCC, suggesting its potential role in oral carcinogenesis.