A Case-control Study for the Assessment of Correlation of Denture-related Sores and Oral Cancer Risk.

INTRODUCTION: Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Although multifactorial, the exact pathogenesis of oral cancer is still unclear. Apart from tobacco chewing and smoking, chronic long-term irritation by ill-fitting denture is also said to be an important risk factor for the development of oral cancer. Literature quotes some amount of evidence that correlates long-term denture irritation as a risk factor for the development of oral cancer. Hence, we analyzed the correlation of denture-related sores as a risk factor for the development of oral cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present case-control study included 140 newly diagnosed oral cancer cases and 140 patients as the control healthy group. One-hour questionnaire was framed and was conducted to the control group and the study group by 10 experienced interviewers who were trained for such type of analysis. Assessment of the patients' socioeconomic status, cigarette smoking habit, alcohol drinking habit, and oral health status was done and compared on the two study groups. Logistic regression models along with multivariate models were used for the assessment of the results. RESULTS: In the control group and the cancer patient group, total of 140 new cancer cases and 140 subjects were included. Out of 140 patients in the cancer group, 16 were nonsmokers, while 110 smoked cigarette in the cancer patient group. As far as alcohol consumption is concerned, 42 patients in the control group and 102 patients in the oral cancer group were chronic heavy drinkers. Fried food intake was high in both the groups. Significant correlation was obtained while comparing the heavy smokers, heavy alcohol consumers, and oral health status in both the study groups. CONCLUSION: Our results favor the hypothesis that positive correlation exists between oral cancer risk and recurrent denture sores. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: People wearing denture prosthesis should be periodically visualized for identification of any mucosal alteration or changes at the earliest.

Expression of Myofibroblasts in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Immunohistochemical Study.

INTRODUCTION: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common types of malignancy affecting the orafacial region and with a high mortality rate. The fact that stroma of the tumor modulates and facilitates the progression and metastasis of the malignancy has been shown in the past studies. The cells of the activated stroma that are responsible for the progression and metastasis of the tumor are the fibroblasts having smooth muscle properties. These myofibroblasts are said to secrete numerous inflammatory mediators and factors which are said to play a crucial role in tumor progression. Therefore, we evaluated the presence of myofibroblasts in OSCC, by immunohisto-chemistry using alpha smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) antibody. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated a total of 50 biopsy specimens from the archives of the oral pathology, where 20 specimens out of 50 were of well-differentiated OSCC (WDOSCC), 20 were of poorly differentiated OSCC (PDOSCC), and 10 were of normal healthy controls. All the specimens were stained by immunohistochemically using with monoclonal antihuman α-SMA. Etemad-Moghadam et al method was used for assessing the myofibroblast distribution. Staining index was evaluated for the groups and compared. All the results were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. RESULTS: The mean percentage of myofibroblasts score for WDOSCC and PDOSCC were 2.88 and 2.92 respectively. The mean staining intensity score in WDOSCC and PDOSCC were 2.88 and 2.55 respectively. Statistically significant results were obtained while comparing the final staining index score between the OSCC group and normal control group. No significant correlation could be obtained while comparing the mean staining index score in between WDOSCC and PDOSCC. CONCLUSION: Malignant epithelium might induce the adjacent stromal tissue to produce myofibroblasts. These specialized cells may be utilized as therapeutic targets for the treatment of OSCC. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Proliferation of myofibroblasts may be used as a stromal marker of premalignancy and malignancy.