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RecruitingNCT06934863LPO_CMRUpdated May 14, 2026

Rate of Malignant Transformation and Clinical Characteristics Among an Oral Lichen Planus Cohort: a Retrospective Center Experience

An observational study in Oral Lichen Planus, Oral Carcinoma and Oral Carcinoma in Situ, sponsored by Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. Recruiting at 1 site in Italy. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-14.

Sponsored by Catholic University of the Sacred Heart · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrollment
300
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The main objective of this paper will be to evaluate the rate of malignant transformation among a cohort of patients affected by oral lichen planus with long-term follow-up. Secondary aims will be to study and describe the characteristics of these patients to identify potential risk factors for malignant transformation, and to evaluate the therapeutic effects and features to OLP drgus.

Read the detailed description

Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease of unknown etiology, primarily affecting the oral mucosa. Global prevalence ranges from 1.01% to 3%, with an estimated 1.43% prevalence in Europe. Although OLP can affect the scalp, nails, and skin, it most commonly manifests in the oral cavity. The disease primarily involves the stratified squamous epithelium of the mouth, and while its precise cause remains unclear, it is thought to result from a T-cell-mediated autoimmune response, triggered by microbial agents, chemicals, stress, or viral infections. T cells directly attack keratinocytes, causing epithelial damage, with both specific (T-cell activity) and nonspecific mechanisms (MMPs, chemokines, and mast cells) contributing to disease progression. CD8+ and CD4+ T cells and Langerhans cells play key roles in antigen presentation, while Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs) are involved in the breakdown of the basement membrane, leading to keratinocyte destruction.

The main objective of this paper will be to evaluate the rate of malignant transformation among a cohort of patients affected by oral lichen planus with long-term follow-up. Secondary aims will be to study and describe the characteristics of these patients to identify potential risk factors for malignant transformation, and to evaluate the therapeutic effects and features to OLP drgus. Also, dental and periodontal status will be evaluated based on charts and charting data.

02

Conditions studied

  • Oral Lichen Planus
  • Oral Carcinoma
  • Oral Carcinoma in Situ

Keywords

  • Oral Lichen Planus
  • Malignant Transformation
  • Oral Carcinoma
  • Oral Dysplasia
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
Child (0–17), Adult (18–64), Older adult (65+)
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Probability sample

Study population

A cohort of patients affected by oral lichen planus

Inclusion criteria

  • Clinical-histological diagnosis of Oral lichen planus
  • Patients who gave consensus to personal data treatment
  • Minimum 6 months follow-up

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who did not give consensus to personal data treatment
  • Oral lichenoid lesions
  • Patients with anamnesis of hematopoietic stem cells transplant
  • Patients with a OSCC at the first histological examination (i.e., namely: also OSCC patients with a OLP background were excluded)
04

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrollment
300 participants (estimated)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • A cohort of patients affected by Oral lichen patients

    A cohort of patients affected by Oral lichen patients will be evaluated retrospectively in anamnestic and clinical characteristics in order to assess any risk factors for malignant transformation. Also, dental and periodontal status will be evaluated based on charts and charting data.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Oral Carcinomas

    Number of cases that will be histologically diagnosed as Oral Carcinomas. This outcome will be expressed as a dichotomous variable (i.e., yes/no).

    Time frame: From January 2024 to January 2028

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
    Roma, 00168, Italy
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06934863
Lead sponsor
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
Responsible party
Carlo Lajolo (Associate Professor, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart) — Principal investigator
First posted
Apr 18, 2025
Start date
Jan 31, 2024
Primary completion
Jan 31, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Jan 31, 2029 (estimated)
Last update
May 14, 2026

Study contacts

Carlo Lajolo Associate Professor, DDS, MD, PhD
Contact
carlo.lajolo@unicatt.it
3356078354 ext. +39
Carlo Lajolo Associate Professor, MD, DDS, PhD
Contact
carlo.lajolo@unicatt.it
3356078354 ext. +39

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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