RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to evaluate and compare immunohistochemically, the biological behavior of keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) with normal oral mucosa by analyzing cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and antiapoptosis using cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), protein 53 (p53), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and CD105 (endoglin). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study comprised 30 cases of KCOT in the study group, in which the expression of COX-2, p53, Bcl-2, and CD105 were analyzed and compared with that of control group consisting of 30 normal oral mucosae. RESULTS: The results were evaluated based on a number of positively stained cells; among 30 samples of KCOT, 22 samples were p53 positive, 23 samples were Bcl-2 positive, 18 samples were COX-2 positive, whereas all the above markers were negative in all the 30 samples of the normal oral mucosa and CD105 mean vascular density in KCOT 13.8 in normal oral mucosa. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and antiapoptosis may be the possible factors contributing for the unique biological behavior of KCOT.