Oral Cancers (oral + cancers)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Nm23-H1 expression of metastatic tumors in the lymph nodes is a prognostic indicator of oral squamous cell carcinoma

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 2 2008
Yi-Fen Wang
Abstract We recently reported that low Nm23-H1 expression of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was correlated with the occurrence of lymphatic metastasis. However, little is known about whether Nm23-H1 level of metastatic tumors in the cervical lymph nodes is reduced in comparison with primary oral cancers and its significance for patients' prognosis. By immunohistochemistry, we analyzed the Nm23-H1 expression in 52 pairs of OSCC specimens from primary oral cancers and their metastatic lymph nodes. Western blot analysis further confirmed the immunohistochemical interpretation. To verify the effects of Nm23-H1 on cell migration and invasion, we established several stable clones derived from a human OSCC cell line (SAS) by knockdown and overexpression. Wound-healing closure, transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to determine cell motility, migratory and invasive activities. Western blot analysis was carried out to evaluate cyclin A expression of OSCC cells with the altered Nm23-H1 levels following knockdown and overexpression. By immunohistochemistry, Nm23-H1 expression of metastatic lymph nodes was significantly lower than that of their primary oral cancers, supporting a role of Nm23-H1 in metastasis suppression. Negative Nm23-H1 interpretation of OSCC specimens, in either primary oral cancers or metastatic lymph nodes, indicated a poor survival outcome of patients. On the basis of in vitro studies of Nm23-H1 knockdown and overexpression, we demonstrated an inverse correlation between Nm23-H1 expression and the invasiveness of OSCC cells. Moreover, we observed the concomitant reduction in Nm23-H1 and cyclin A levels of metastatic tumors in both results of in vitro OSCC cells and ex vivo tumor specimens. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Overexpression of Fos-related antigen-1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2005
Flavia R. R. Mangone
Summary The activating protein-1 (AP-1) family of transcription factors has been implicated in the control of proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes, but its role in malignant transformation is not clear. The aim of this study is to assess the pattern of mRNA expression of jun-fos AP-1 family members in 45 samples of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and matched adjacent mucosa by means of Northern blot analysis. Transcripts of all family members were identified, except for JunB that was detected only by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Neither c-Fos nor JunD or FosB mRNA differed between tumours and normal tissues. We observed a strong Fos-related antigen-1 (Fra-1) and Fra-2 expression, but only Fra-1 mRNA densitometric values were higher in tumour, compared to normal adjacent mucosa (t -test, P = 0.006). A direct relationship between the positive expression of Fra-1 mRNA, above tumour median, was associated with the presence of compromised lymph nodes (Fischer exact test, P = 0.006). In addition, Fra-1 protein staining was assessed in a collection of 180 tumours and 29 histologically normal samples adjacent to tumours in a tissue array. Weak reactivity, restricted to the basal cell layer, was detected in 79% of tumour adjacent normal tissues, opposed to the intense reactivity of cancer tissues. In the subgroup of oral cancers, we have observed a shift in Fra-1 immunoreactivity, as long as the number of patients in each category, cytoplasmic or nuclear/cytoplasmic staining, was analysed (Fischer exact test, P = 0.0005). Thus, Fra-1 gene induction and accumulation of Fra-1 protein may contribute to the neoplastic phenotype in HNSCC. [source]


Presence of human papilloma virus, herpes simplex virus and Epstein,Barr virus DNA in oral biopsies from Sudanese patients with regard to toombak use

JOURNAL OF ORAL PATHOLOGY & MEDICINE, Issue 8 2010
Jamshid Jalouli
J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 39: 599,604 Using PCR/DNA sequencing, we investigated the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Epstein,Barr virus (EBV) DNA in brush biopsies obtained from 150 users of Sudanese snuff (toombak) and 25 non-users of toombak in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples obtained from 31 patients with oral dysplasias (25 toombak users and 6 non-users), and from 217 patients with oral cancers (145 toombak users and 72 non-users). In the brush tissue samples from toombak users, HPV was detected in 60 (40%), HSV in 44 (29%) and EBV in 97 (65%) of the samples. The corresponding figures for the 25 samples from non-users were 17 (68%) positive for HPV, 6 (24%) positive for HSV and 21 (84%) for EBV. The formalin-fixed samples with oral dysplasias were all negative for HPV. In the 145 oral cancer samples from toombak users, HPV was detected in 39 (27%), HSV in 15 (10%) and EBV in 53 (37%) of the samples. The corresponding figures for the samples from non-users were 15 (21%) positive for HPV, 5 (7%) for HSV and 16 (22%) for EBV. These findings illustrate that prevalence of HSV, HPV and EBV infections are common and may influence oral health and cancer development. It is not obvious that cancer risk is increased in infected toombak users. These observations warrant further studies involving toombak-associated oral lesions, to uncover the possible mechanisms of these viral infections in the development of oral cancer, and the influence of toombak on these viruses. [source]


Prevalence of oral cancer and pre-cancer and associated risk factors among tea estate workers in the central Sri Lanka

JOURNAL OF ORAL PATHOLOGY & MEDICINE, Issue 10 2007
A. Ariyawardana
Background:, To screen for oral cancer or not is being debated, but for high-risk populations with minimal access to regular dental care systematic oral examinations could provide some benefit. Methods:, We undertook oral mucosal examinations of labourers employed in tea estate plantations in Sri Lanka. In a two-stage screening procedure, first by estate medical officers and then by visiting specialists, we examined 12 716 persons at their workplaces achieving a coverage of one-sixth of the total workforce. Results:, Fourteen oral cancers and 848 subjects with oral pre-cancer (6.7%) were detected giving population prevalences of 46.1 per 1000 for leukoplakia and 16.4 per 1000 for oral submucous fibrosis. Among subjects with any oral mucosal disorder (n = 1159) proportions of current users of betel quid, smokers and alcohol use was recorded at 92%, 31% and 61% respectively. The synergistic effect of these three risk habits on the development of oral leukoplakia was evident in mixed habit groups. Conclusions:, The prevalence of oral pre-cancer in tea estate labourers was higher than estimates reported in previous studies. In the absence of state-sponsored preventive activities, it is necessary to improve the capacity of individual health practitioners and small medical centres to participate in oral health promotion and oral cancer/pre-cancer screening. [source]


Photodynamic Therapy Treatment of Early Oral and Laryngeal Cancers,

PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2007
Merrill A. Biel
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive treatment that uses a light source to activate light-sensitive drugs or photosensitizers in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. PDT has been successfully employed to treat early carcinomas of the oral cavity and larynx preserving normal tissue and vital functions of speech and swallowing. Two hundred seventy-six patients with early carcinomas of the oral cavity and larynx were treated from 1990 to 2006. Cure rates with a single treatment for early laryngeal and oral cancers were 91% and 94%, respectively. PDT is an effective primary and alternative treatment modality for early oral cavity and laryngeal cancers. [source]


Lymphatic Mapping and Sentinel Lymphadenectomy for 106 Head and Neck Lesions: Contrasts Between Oral Cavity and Cutaneous Malignancy,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue S109 2006
FACS, Francisco J. Civantos MD
Abstract Objectives: The objectives of this prospective series were to present our results in 106 sequential cases of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the head and neck region and contrast the experience in oral cancer with that for cutaneous lesions. Hypotheses: SLNB has an acceptably low complication rate in the head and neck. Lymphatic mapping and gamma probe-guided lymphadenectomy can improve the management of malignancies of the head and neck by more accurate identification of the nodal basins at risk and more accurate staging of the lymphatics. For appropriately selected patients, radionuclide lymphatic mapping may safely allow for minimally invasive sentinel lymphadenectomy without formal completion selective lymphadenectomy. Methods: One hundred six patients underwent intralesional radionuclide injection and radiologic lymphoscintigraphy (LS) on Institutional Review Board-approved protocols and 103 of these underwent successful SLNB. These included 35 patients with malignant melanoma, 10 cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, four lip cancers, eight Merkel cell carcinomas, two rare cutaneous lesions, and 43 oral cancers. Mean follow up was 24 months. Patients with oral cavity malignancy underwent concurrent selective neck dissection after narrow-exposure sentinel lymph node excision. In this group, the SLNB histopathology could be correlated with the completion neck specimen histopathology. Patients with cutaneous malignancy underwent SLNB alone and only received regional lymphadenectomy based on positive histology or clinical indications. Data were tabulated for anatomic drainage patterns, complications, histopathology, and patterns of cancer recurrence. Results: Surgical complications were rare. No temporary or permanent dysfunction of facial or spinal accessory nerves occurred with sentinel node biopsy. Lymphatic drainage to areas dramatically outside of the expected lymphatic basins occurred in 13.6%. Predictive value of a negative sentinel node was 98.2% for cutaneous malignancies (based on regional recurrence) and 92% with oral cancer (based on pathologic correlation). Gross tumor replacement of lymph nodes and redirection of lymphatic flow represented a significant technical issue in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Sixteen percent of patients with oral cancer were upstaged from N0 to N1 after extended sectioning and immunohistochemistry of the sentinel node. Conclusions: LS and SLNB can be performed with technical success in the head and neck region. Complications are minimal. More accurate staging and mapping of lymphatic drainage may improve the quality of standard lymphadenectomy. The potential for minimally invasive surgery based on this technology exists, but there is a small risk of missing positive disease. Whether the failure rate is greater than that of standard lymphadenectomy without gamma probe guidance is not known. New studies need to focus on refinements of technique and validation of accuracy as well as biologic correlates for the prediction of metastases. [source]


S-phase fraction and DNA ploidy in oral leukoplakia

ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 7-8 2010
Rahul Khanna
Abstract Background:, The risk of malignant conversion in oral leukoplakia is well documented. Histological findings are often unreliable and it is difficult to predict on the basis of clinical and histopathological changes which leukoplakic lesion will turn malignant. Methods:, We used the technique of flow cytometry to evaluate the ploidy status, DNA index and S-phase fraction in leukoplakia, oral cancer and normal oral mucosal biopsies and compared it with histological findings. The study was carried out on 30 patients with oral cancer, 60 with leukoplakia and 30 with normal oral mucosal biopsies. Results:, The aneuploidy rate in oral cancers was 64%, for leukoplakia 20%, while all normal mucosal biopsies were diploid. Aneuploid lesions also had a greater S-phase fraction (SPF). The DNA Index (DI) of aneuploid oral cancers was 1.72 and aneuploid leukoplakias was 1.24. Leukoplakia specimens which showed histological evidence of dysplasia had aneuploidy rate of 38%, DI of 1.19 and SPF of 6.2%. The corresponding values for leukoplakia specimens without dysplasia were 14%, 1.09 and 4.1%, respectively. Conclusion:, The method of flow cytometry can be used to identify the subset of leukoplakia patients who are at a higher risk of malignant conversion. These patients could undergo more rigid surveillance or undergo excision biopsy of their lesions. [source]


Epithelial cell proliferative activity and oral cancer progression

CELL PROLIFERATION, Issue 2002
P. J. Thomson
Abstract. Accurate, predictive assessment of the behaviour and progression of oral cancers and precancers remains elusive in clinical practice. Archival tissue specimens from 10 previously treated patients with oral lesions of known clinical outcome (3 years post-treatment) were re-examined histopathologically, and proliferative cell labelling indices (LIs) determined for Ki67, cyclin A and histone mRNA cell cycle markers. While histone mRNA labelling ultimately proved unreliable, both Ki67 and cyclin A LIs demonstrated a clear trend for enhanced labelling to occur in increasingly dysplastic and neoplastic tissue, with particular emphasis on suprabasal labelling in abnormal tissue. Perhaps of greatest significance was the observation of increased LIs and suprabasal labelling in lesions with poor clinical outcome, such as patients developing recurrent disease or cervical lymph node metastasis. Measurement of cell proliferative activity in individual oral epithelial dysplastic lesions or invasive squamous cell carcinomas may thus provide unique, predictive information on clinical outcome. [source]