# Evaluation of Paxillin Expression in Odontogenic Cysts and Tumors

## TL;DR

This study examines paxillin (PXN) expression in different types of odontogenic lesions to determine its role in tumor behavior.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the expression patterns of PXN in odontogenic lesions and its lack of correlation with biological aggressiveness.

## Key findings

- PXN was expressed in the cytoplasm of tumor cells and epithelial layers of cysts, but with no significant differences between lesion types.
- No statistical difference in PXN expression was found between cysts and tumors or between different types of ameloblastoma.
- PXN expression was not associated with the biological behavior of the lesions.

## Abstract

Paxillin (PXN) is one of the proteins involved in cell adhesion. PXN and integrins constitute a key site for the focal adhesion between the cell and extracellular matrix. Several studies have shown that PXN is a factor in tumor formation, progression, invasion, and metastasis.

This study evaluated PXN expression in four types of odontogenic lesions with different aggressive behaviors

In this retrospective cross-sectional study, PXN expression was immunohistochemically assessed in 68 paraffin-embedded tissue samples from patients with the confirmed diagnosis of four types of odontogenic lesions, including 14 dentigerous cysts (DC), 20 odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), 16 unicystic ameloblastoma, and 18 solid ameloblastoma. The PXN expression in these samples were scored based on the percentage and intensity of immunoreactivity, and compared among the groups by Chi-square test.

The PXN marker was detected in the cytoplasm of tumor cells (unicystic and solid ameloblastoma) and the epithelial layer of cysts (DC and OKC). The intensively stained marker of PXN was observed in 9 cases (64.3%) of the DC, 14 cases (70%) of OKC, 12 cases (75%) of unicystic ameloblastoma, and 13 cases (72.2%) of solid ameloblastoma.
However, there was not statistical difference of PXN protein expression between DC and OKC (p Value = 0.51) and unicystic and solid ameloblastoma (p = 0.58),
also the same was true for cysts and tumors (p = 0.37).

The expression of PXN is not related to the biological behaviors of odontogenic lesions.