Analysis of p53 Protein by PAb240, Ki-67 Expression and Human Papillomavirus DNA Detection in Different Types of Odontogenic Keratocyst

Objective: To investigate the possible association between alterations in the p53 system and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the etiology of odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) and to study proliferation and epithelial maturation patterns by topographic analysis of Ki-67 expression. Materials and Methods: Eighty-three OKC samples (29 cases associated with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, 29 solitary non-recurrent cases 20 solitary recurrent cases, and 5 chondroid keratocysts) were studied by immunohistochemistry to detect p53 protein (PAb 244) and Ki-67 (MIB-1) expression, and by PCR to detect HPV DNA. Results: Twelve cases (14.6%) expressed p53 protein; no case showed the presence of HPV DNA; 9 cases (11%) presented with mild epithelial dysplasia. The suprabasal expression of Ki-67 was significantly more frequent than its basal expression (p