Comparison of C-Myc Oncogene Expression in Benign and Malignant Odontogenic Tumors

Aims : The aim of this study was to comparatively investigate the expression of c - Myc oncoprotein in benign and malignant odontogenic tumors and also to assess its potential prognostic role in these conditions. Study Design: The c - Myc protein is a nuclear transcription factor which centrally regulates cell proliferation, arrest, cell differentiation and cell death. Ameloblastomas are benign uncommon tumors. They are the most f requently encountered odontogenic tumors arising from the epithelium of the odontogenic apparatus. They rarely have the potentiality to turn malignant in the form of either malignant ameloblastoma or ameloblasti c carcinoma. The expression of c - M yc oncogene products were detected in normal tissue and cancer cells. It is related to the proliferation of odontogenic epithelial cells and its degree of differentiation.