High serum level of retinol and α-tocopherol affords protection against oral cancer in a multiethnic population.

BACKGROUND: A comparative cross-sectional study involving oral cancer patients and healthy individuals was designed to investigate associations between retinol, α-tocopherol and ß-carotene with the risk of oral cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included a total of 240 matched cases and controls where subjects were selected from the Malaysian Oral Cancer Database and Tissue Bank System (MOCDTBS). Retinol, α-tocopherol and ß-carotene levels and intake were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) respectively. RESULTS: It was found that results from the two methods applied did not correlate, so that further analysis was done using the HPLC method utilising blood serum. Serum levels of retinol and α-tocopherol among cases (0.177±0.081, 1.649±1.670µg/ml) were significantly lower than in controls (0.264±0.137, 3.225±2.054µg/ml) (p<0.005). Although serum level of ß-carotene among cases (0.106±0.159 µg/ml) were lower compared to controls (0.134±0.131µg/ml), statistical significance was not observed. Logistic regression analysis showed that high serum level of retinol (OR=0.501, 95% CI=0.254-0.992, p<0.05) and α-tocopherol (OR=0.184, 95% CI=0.091-0.370, p<0.05) was significantly related to lower risk of oral cancer, whereas no relationship was observed between ß-carotene and oral cancer risk. CONCLUSIONS: High serum levels of retinol and α-tocopherol confer protection against oral cancer risk.

Distinct pattern of chromosomal alterations and pathways in tongue and cheek squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the cause of behavioral difference between tongue and cheek squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) by verifying the copy number alterations (CNAs). METHODS: Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was used to profile unique deletions and amplifications that are involved with tongue and cheek SCC, respectively. This was followed by pathway analysis relating to CNA genes from both sites. RESULTS: The most frequently amplified regions in tongue SCC were 4p16.3, 11q13.4, and 13q34; whereas the most frequently deleted region was 19p12. For cheek SCC, the most frequently amplified region was identified on chromosome 9p24.1-9p23; whereas the most common deleted region was located on chromosome 8p23.1. Further analysis revealed that the most significant unique pathway related to tongue and cheek SCCs was the cytoskeleton remodeling and immune response effect on the macrophage differentiation pathway. CONCLUSION: This study has showed the different genetic profiles and biological pathways between tongue and cheek SCCs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 1268-1278, 2014.