Nucleus accumbens-associated protein 1 is a feasible marker for distinguishing oral epithelial dysplasia from squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and carcinoma in situ (CIS) are defined as dysplastic epithelial cells in the epithelium. Accurate diagnosis of such lesions is difficult even histopathologically. Over one-third of cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are associated with OED. Nucleus accumbens-associated protein 1 (NAC1) belongs to the Poxvirus and Zinc finger/Bric-a-brac Tramtrack Broad complex family of proteins that mediates several cellular functions, including proliferation, apoptosis, and transcription.