Immunoexpression of PI3K, PTEN, and S6K1 in oral potentially malignant disorders

Objective: To evaluate the immunoexpression of PI3K, PTEN, and S6K1 proteins in oral epithelial dysplasias (OED). Methods: Twenty cases of OED with different histological grades and twenty cases of healthy oral mucosa (HOM) were subjected to immunohistochemical reaction using anti-PI3K, anti-PTEN, and anti-S6K1 antibodies, which were analyzed semiquantitatively. Statistical analysis was carried out using Fisher's exact test or Pearson's chi-squared test for categorical variables, and the Mann-Whitney test or the Kruskal-Wallis test for quantitative variables. Results: A higher frequency of positive immunostaining for PI3K and S6K1 was observed in OED, together with decreased nuclear and cytoplasmic PTEN in OED compared to HOM. Furthermore, a higher mean cytoplasmic number of cells expressing PTEN was observed in low-risk OED compared to high-risk ones. Conclusion: Increased expression of PI3K and S6K1, along with reduced PTEN expression, may be linked to the development and progression of OED. Consequently, these markers may have potential diagnostic value, aiding in risk stratification and potentially contributing to prognosis assessment.