Microscopic analysis of histological and immunohistochemical sections to differentiate normal, precancer and cancerous oral squamous epithelial tissues

Analysis of histopathological sections by image analysis software and Immunohistochemical localization for investigation of different protein expression patterns can be used as a valued tool for detection of progress of malignancy in oral cancer. The present study has applied microscopic analysis for different sections of oral precancerous conditions and lesions such as Oral Submucous Fibrosis, leukoplakia, as well as Oral squamous cell carcinoma in comparison to normal. Epithelial thickness, cellular area and roundness were analysed by image analysis software. Potent biomarkers for carcinogenesis such as VEGF, MMP2 & MMP9, shows a strong positivity in both precancerous and cancerous tissue sections when estimated immunohistochemically. NQO1 expression was high in precancerous condition but decreased in OSCC revealing epithelial disintegration. Distribution of SOD was also observed as stress generated by ROS. Together all these can be used as a strong diagnostic approach for identification of different stages and severity of oral precancerous and cancerous conditions.