Expression of BRAF, EGFR and CD10 in ameloblastoma: Their potential role in local tumour invasiveness / Tan Chuey Chuan

Objectives: The aim of the present study is to investigate the expression of BRAF, EGFR and CD 10 in ameloblastoma and determine the impact of these pro-invasive biomarkers on the biological behavior of different ameloblastoma subsets. Methods: BRAF, EGFR and CD10 expression were examined with immunohistochemical techniques in 39 cases of paraffin-embedded ameloblastoma [19 unicystic ameloblastoma (UA) and 20 solid/multicystic ameloblastoma (SMA)]. Semi-quantitative score method was used to evaluate the immunoexpression which classified into pre-ameloblast-like cells (PA-cells), stellate reticulum-like cells (SR-like) and stromal cells (ST-cell) in ameloblastoma. The study was approved by the Medical Ethic Committee, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya [Ethics DF OS1502/0011(P)]. Findings: The pro-invasive markers were significantly expressed in all three localisation for both UA and SMA (P<0.05). Statistically significant differences in the expression of these markers between epithelial components and stromal cells were observed (P<0.05). Immunoreactivity of EGFR in SMA was associated with ethnicity (P