The recent classification of odontogenic keratocysts (OKSs) recognized them as benign neoplasms, although previous findings have revealed their aggressive nature. Immunohistochemical and molecular analyses have investigated OKSs, but the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has not been fully investigated, despite the importance of this oncogene in the process of carcinogenesis in tumors of epithelial origin. The EGFR protein is usually overexpressed, and the EGFR gene is mutated or amplified. This brief review aims to emphasize the importance of EGFR detection in these types of cysts. It was revealed that the majority of the studies examined EGFR protein expression using immunohistochemical methods; however, considering EGFR gene variants, mutations were less explored in the previous period from 1992 to 2023. Although EGFR gene polymorphisms are clinically important, they were not identified in the present study. In light of the current significance of EGFR variants, it would be beneficial to examine them in odontogenic lesions. This would enable resolving of discrepancies about their nature, and potentially enhance classifications OKCs in the future. © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
Valentina Vasiljevic, Jasmina Obradovic, Vladimir Jurisic. Significance of EGFR investigation in odontogenic keratocyst: a narrative review. Molecular biology reports. 2023 Aug;50(8):7089-7098
PMID: 37314601
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