Laminin Immunostaining in Biopsies as a Useful Biomarker of Early Invasion in Actinic Cheilitis and Differential Diagnosis Between Actinic Cheilitis and Lip Cancer: New Insights

We suggest that immunochemical analysis of laminin expression can be useful in identifying AC cases suspected of early invasion. Furthermore, we propose that laminin immunostaining may contribute to the differential diagnosis between AC with low and high-grade ED, and between AC and invasive LSCC. Alterations in the staining pattern might provide indirect morphological evidence of BM degradation, indicating malignant transformation. From a clinical point of view, the findings could be particularly useful in selecting patients with a greater tendency to develop squamous cell carcinoma and therefore, providing close follow-up.