The evaluation of Her-2/neu expression in reticular lichen planus erosive lichen planus and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Target therapy against molecular markers of EGFR family has been recently used in the treatment protocol of several diseases. To our Knowledge, this is the first comparative study evaluating Her-2/neu expression in erosive lichen planus (ELP) and reticular lichen planus (RLP), which is compared with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods: 60 samples, including 20 cases of RLP, 20 cases of ELP, and 20 cases of OSCC were evaluated immunohistochemically in this study. Results: Our findings showed that Her-2/neu protein had no role in differentiating between RLP, ELP and OSCC and this protein does not contribute to the process of carcinogenesis in the oral epithelium. Conclusion: The lack of Her-2/neu overexpression indicates that molecular targeting of Her-2/neu protein is not recommended as an adjuvant therapy. Further studies based on the evaluation of the signaling pathways will provide invaluable help to clarify the pathogenesis of OLP and aid in diagnosis and treatment. Key words: Her-2/neu, immunohistochemistry, lichen planus, oral, squamous cell carcinoma .