Comparative study of conventional exfoliative cytology and centrifuged liquid-based cytology in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Background: This study aims to compare the efficacy between conventional exfoliative cytology (EC) and centrifuged liquid-based cytology (CLBC) in control, leukoplakia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Oral leukoplakia and oral cancer require an early definitive diagnosis for better prognostic outcome. Oral EC, a minimally invasive technique that involves the examination of desquamated cells from the tissue surfaces used as a method of early diagnosis. CLBC is a modified technique that is used to achieve improved quality of the cytology findings. Materials and Methods: A comparative study was done in 30 subjects, of which, 10 cases from control group, 10 oral leukoplakia, and 10 OSCC cases. These subjects were selected according to the appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria. The cases in each group underwent conventional as well as CLBC. The comparison was carried out between these groups with respect to the cellular and background stromal factors. Appropriate qualitative evaluation of the samples was collected and statistical analysis was done using the Chi-squared test. The significance level of value was P < 0.05. Results: Significant results were obtained for certain parameters such as cellular overlap clear background, uniform distribution in control, leukoplakia, and OSCC with a P = 0.004**, P = 0.001**, P = 0.006** using CLBC. Conclusion: CLBC is better and give clearer vision as compared to conventional cytology and can be used in the early diagnosis.

Expression of HIF-1α and Nestin in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its association with vasculogenic mimicry.

AIM: To evaluate and correlate the expression of HIF1-α and Nestin in tumor center and periphery of nonmetastatic, and recurrent oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its association with vasculogenic mimicry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 60 histopathological proven cases of OSCC with proper tumor center and periphery were collected. Among them 25 are nonmetastatic, 25 metastatic, and 10 recurrent cases of OSCC. Immunohistochemical analysis of HIF, Nestin, and CD31/PAS (periodic acid Schiff) was done. RESULTS: Based on the extent of tumor cells stained, staining intensity and index score, expression of both HIF and Nestin was highly significant in periphery of metastatic OSCC with a P value of 0.003* and 0.001*. The total number of vessels expressed in nonmetastatic, metastatic, and recurrent OSCC was not significant but the overall expression of CD31/PAS was significant in the periphery of the tumor with a P value of 0.024*. Correlating the overall expression, HIF showed a positive relation with Nestin and CD31/PAS with a P value of 0.026* and 0.038* in nonmetastatic OSCC using Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis. CONCLUSION: Based on the above results hypoxia plays a vital role in cancer stem cells maintenance with the formation of vessel-like structures by tumor cells at an early stage of cancer development.