More specifically, the study focuses on the investigation of the epithelial presence of DAPK-1 by means of immunohistochemistry in OLP compared to OSCC, oral leukoplakia (OL), a well-established oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD), and normal oral epithelium to evaluate its possible role as an early predictor of the possibility of malignant transformation risk of OLP lesions. Here, DAPK1 is linked to oral lichen planus.