ArticleJournal of translational medicine2020
Malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia is associated with macrophage polarization.
Article in Journal of translational medicine, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 53 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
53 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 82 citations in OpenAlex.
- Transcriptomic landscape of oral potentially malignant disorders: a meta-analysis approach.Human cell · 2026Pooled it
- Cancer Hallmarks Expression in Oral Leukoplakia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Oral diseases · 2026Pooled it
- Macrophages and the immune microenvironment in OPMDs: a systematic review of the literature.Frontiers in oral health · 2025Pooled it
- Immunophenotypic Characterization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Oral Carcinogenesis: An Observational Study.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Observational
- Immunological Microenvironment Diversity in Homogeneous and Non-Homogeneous Oral Leukoplakia.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Artificial intelligence for keratosis characterization and identification of lichenoid lesions in histological samples of oral leukoplakia.Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology · 2026Article
- Chorus line in oral squamous cell carcinoma: How stromal and immune players orchestrate tumor progression (Review).International journal of molecular medicine · 2026Review
- The multistep progression of areca nut-induced oral cancer: a mechanistic roadmap from pathogenesis to precision therapy.Life medicine · 2026Review
- Integrative Analysis the Role of ENG as a Metabolic and Macrophage-Related Gene in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.Biochemical genetics · 2026Article
- Immune suppression, HLA-risk and potential future immune based targets of oral leukoplakia progression.Frontiers in dental medicine · 2026Review
- A spatial-microbial-metabolic-immune framework for high-risk oral potentially malignant disorders: an evidence-ranked review for malignant transformation risk stratification.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026Review
- Understanding the Tumor Microenvironment and Therapy Resistance in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.Cells · 2025Review
- Review
- A Modular Mathematical Model of the Immune Response for Investigating the Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases.Viruses · 2025Article
- Malignant Transformed and Non-Transformed Oral Leukoplakias Are Metabolically Different.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- Clinical Management Update of Oral Leukoplakia: A Review From the American Head and Neck Society Cancer Prevention Service.Head & neck · 2025Review
- Advancing oral immunology for improving oral health.Journal of orofacial orthopedics = Fortschritte der Kieferorthopadie : Organ/official journal Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Kieferorthopadie · 2025Review
- Multiplex immunofluorescence assessment of macrophages and IL-23R in inflammatory and malignant diseases of the oral mucosa: a pilot study.Frontiers in immunology · 2025Article
- Alveolar bone loss is associated with oral cancer: a case-control study.Frontiers in oral health · 2025Article
- Comprehensive analysis of clinicopathological characteristics in oral squamous cell carcinoma arising from oral submucous fibrosis: a retrospective study.Discover oncology · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMost oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) occur on the basis of oral leukoplakias (OLP). The histologic degree of dysplasia is insufficient for the prediction of OLP malignant transformation. Immunologic parameters are gaining importance for prognostic assessment and therapy of cancer. M2 polarized macrophages were shown to be associated with OSCC progression and inferior prognosis. The current study aims to answer the question if OLP with malignant transformation into OSCC within 5 years differ from OLP without transformation regarding macrophage infiltration and polarization.
methods201 specimens (50 transforming OLP, 53 non-transforming OLP, 49 corresponding OSCC and 49 healthy oral mucosa controls) were processed for immunohistochemistry. Samples were stained for CD68, CD163 and CD11c expression, completely digitalized and computer-assisted cell counting was performed. Epithelial and subepithelial compartments were differentially assessed. Groups were statistically compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test. A cut-off point for the discrimination of transforming and non-transforming OLP was determined and the association between macrophage infiltration and malignant transformation was calculated using the Chi-square test (χ
resultsMacrophage infiltration and M2 polarization in OLP with malignant transformation within 5 years was significantly increased compared to OLP without malignant transformation (p < 0.05). OSCC samples showed the highest macrophage infiltration and strongest M2 polarization (p < 0.05). Additionally, transforming OLP revealed a significant shift of macrophage infiltration towards the epithelial compartment (p < 0.05). χ
conclusionImmunological changes precede malignant transformation of OLP. Increased macrophage infiltration and M2 polarization was associated with the development of oral cancer in OLP. Macrophage infiltration could serve as predictive marker for malignant transformation.
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Registered trials
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