Leukoplakia of oral cavity and urinary bladder are premalignant to squamous carcinoma

Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Bibliographic Information

Authors: Wishahi M.

Journal: World Journal of Experimental Medicine

Publisher: Baishideng Publishing Group Inc

Publication Date: 20 March 2026

Volume / Issue: Volume 16 / Issue 1

Article No.: 114526

ISSN: 2220315X

DOI: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.114526

Scopus: View on Scopus

Document Type: Article

Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access


Authors and Affiliations

Wishahi M., Department of Urology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, 12411, Egypt


Abstract

A critical work published by Panchannavar et al on the close link between oral leukoplakia (OLK) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition proteins ZEB1 and E-cadherin would predict the progression of OLK to OSCC. In connection with similar clinical status, there are cumulative data that the urinary bladder leukoplakia (Bladder-LK) progress to invasive bladder squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) which does not response to local therapy that indicates immediate cystectomy, these findings were established with multiple publications with clinical follow-up that showed the progression of leukoplakia to SCC in both oral cavity and urinary bladder. Oral leukoplakia, oral SCC, Bladder-LK, urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder, squamous differentiation of UC, and bladder-SCC showed expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors immunotherapy for malignant tumors became a promising cancer immunotherapy. However, the role of PD-L1 inhibitors in OLK OSCC is controversial. Objectives are to highlight the rationale for prospective treatment of OLK and OSCC with PD-L1 inhibitors immunotherapy. © Author(s) 2026.


Keywords

Bladder cancer; Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Leukoplakia; Oral cancer; Programmed cell death-ligand 1; Squamous cell carcinoma


Citation Information

Scopus Citations: 0


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