NUCLEAR FACTOR KAPPA B PATHWAY MAY BE IMPORTANT IN THE MALIGNANT TRANSFORMATION OF PROLIFERATIVE VERRUCOUS LEUKOPLAKIA IN PATIENTS

The nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) may promote tumor cell proliferation, tumor angiogenesis, and inhibition of apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma through the activation of the pathway by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα). A previous study from our group identified an increase of TNFα using a multiplex immunoassay in samples of proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL), a rare and particular disorder with high rates of malignant transformation and recurrence. Our aim was to evaluate the expression of NFkB through an immunofluorescence assay in paraffin, tissue samples from PVL (n = 12), and oral squamous cell carcinoma derived from PVL (OSCC-PVL; n = 12). At least 5 fields (×400) per sample were registered, and the average percentage of positive cells were statistically accessed. We found that NFkB is statistically increased in the group OSCC-PVL. These findings suggest that the NFkB pathway may be activated by TNFα in OSCC-PVL, and this activation may be important in the malignant transformation of PVL in patients. Apoio financeiro FAPESP (No Processo 2017/01798-7), CAPES (No Processo 88881.187412/2018-01) University of Michigan.