NDB-UFES: An oral cancer and leukoplakia dataset composed of histopathological images and patient data.

The gold standard for the diagnosis of oral cancer is the microscopic analysis of specimens removed preferentially through incisional biopsies of oral mucosa with a clinically detected suspicious lesion. This dataset contains captured histopathological images of oral squamous cell carcinoma and leukoplakia. A total of 237 images were captured, 89 leukoplakia with dysplasia images, 57 leukoplakia without dysplasia images and 91 carcinoma images. The images were captured with an optical light microscope, using 10x and 40x objectives, attached to a microscope camera and visualized through a software. The images were saved in PNG format at 2048 × 1536 size pixels and they refer to hematoxylin-eosin stained histopathologic slides from biopsies performed between 2010 and 2021 in patients managed at the Oral Diagnosis project (NDB) of the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES). Oral leukoplakias were represented by samples with and without epithelial dysplasia. Since the diagnosis considers socio-demographic data (gender, age and skin color) as well as clinical data (tobacco use, alcohol consumption, sun exposure, fundamental lesion, type of biopsy, lesion color, lesion surface and lesion diagnosis), this information was also collected. So, our aim by releasing this dataset NDB-UFES is to provide a new dataset to be used by researchers in Artificial Intelligence (machine and deep learning) to develop tools to assist clinicians and pathologists in the automated diagnosis of oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

A primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma mimicking labial herpes.

INTRODUCTION: A primary cutaneous CD-30 positive T -cell lymphoproliferative disorders are rare and heterogeneous group of primary skin tumors, which include primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PCALCL) and lymphomatoid papulois. CASE REPORT: We report a rare an atypical case of PCALCL with an aggressive and refractory behavior that occurred in the lip vermilion, and that had been initially diagnosed as aggressive herpes. The lesion was recurrent and refractory to the CHOEP chemotherapy protocol followed by radiotherapy, but after hyper CVAD (acronym) + brentuximab with a considerable improvement. After 4 cycles of hyper CVAD plus brentuximab, the patient underwent 100% compatible sibling bone marrow transplantation, with success in the procedure. CONCLUSION: Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a rare disease of difficult diagnosis and may be confused with chronic infectious diseases, postponing treatment.

How pathological criteria can impact prognosis of tongue and floor of the mouth squamous cell carcinoma.

other: Pathological parameters have been indicated as tumor prognostic factors in oral carcinoma. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of pathological parameters on prognosis of patients affected only by tongue and/or floor of the mouth squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODOLOGY: In total, 380 patients treated in the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA) from 1999 to 2006 were included. These patients underwent radical resection followed by neck dissection. The clinical and pathological characteristics were recorded. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used in survival analysis. Overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free interval (DFI) were estimated. Cox residuals were evaluated using the R software version 3.5.2. Worst OS, CSS and DFI were observed in patients with tumors in advanced pathological stages (p<0.001), with the presence of perineural invasion (p<0.001) and vascular invasion (p=0.005). RESULTS: Advanced pathological stage and the presence of a poorly differentiated tumor were independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS. However, advanced pathological stage and perineural invasion were independent predictors of a shorter OS, DFI and CSS. CONCLUSION: Pathological stage and perineural invasion were the most significant pathological variables in survival analysis in tongue and/or floor of the mouth SCC.

How pathological criteria can impact prognosis of tongue and floor of the mouth squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Pathological parameters have been indicated as tumor prognostic factors in oral carcinoma. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of pathological parameters on prognosis of patients affected only by tongue and/or floor of the mouth squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methodology: In total, 380 patients treated in the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA) from 1999 to 2006 were included. These patients underwent radical resection followed by neck dissection. The clinical and pathological characteristics were recorded. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used in survival analysis. Overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free interval (DFI) were estimated. Cox residuals were evaluated using the R software version 3.5.2. Worst OS, CSS and DFI were observed in patients with tumors in advanced pathological stages (p<0.001), with the presence of perineural invasion (p<0.001) and vascular invasion (p=0.005). Results: Advanced pathological stage and the presence of a poorly differentiated tumor were independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS. However, advanced pathological stage and perineural invasion were independent predictors of a shorter OS, DFI and CSS. Conclusion: Pathological stage and perineural invasion were the most significant pathological variables in survival analysis in tongue and/or floor of the mouth SCC.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the floor of the mouth.

BACKGROUND: A solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the oral cavity is an extremely rare entity. Its diagnosis is complicated because of its diverse morphology and similarity to other mesenchymal diseases. CASE REPORT: A rare case of SFT involving floor of the mouth is presented. The tumor was well circumscribed and almost spherical, measuring approximately 3 cm in diameter. Patient was submitted to biopsy and histopathologic examination showed a tumor composed of spindle to epithelioid cells showing pale to eosinophilic cytoplasm, oval or elongated nuclei with inconspicuous nucleoli. Tumor cells showed strong positivity for CD34, vimentin and Bcl-2. SFTs may present as a diagnostic challenge. The patient was followed for 8 years without recurrences. RESULTS: SFT is an uncommon disease in maxillofacial region; however it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spindle cell neoplasms with oral manifestation. Only a few cases have been reported in the floor of mouth. We describe a new case of SFT arising at this location. Key words:Solitary fibrous tumors, mouth floor, oral diagnosis.

A proteomic approach to compare saliva from individuals with and without oral leukoplakia.

BACKGROUND: Oral leukoplakia is the most common potentially malignant disorder in the oral cavity and can precede carcinoma. This study aimed to identify possible oral leukoplakia salivary biomarkers. METHODS: Unstimulated saliva was collected from participants and protein concentration was determined. Proteins were then precipitated with cold acetone and separated using 2DE over a pH range of 3-10. Spot demarcation and matching were performed and protein identification was done through MS analysis. Oral leukoplakia tissues were submitted to immunohistochemistry analysis for keratin 10 (CK10). A complementary analysis of oral leukoplakias that were not included previously was performed in addition. RESULTS: 226±10 spots were identified in oral leukoplakia 2DE gels, and 262±12 spots were identified in volunteers. Twenty-two spots were highly abundant in oral leukoplakias or not detected in the control group, such as apolipoprotein A1, alpha amylase, cystatins, keratin 10, and lysozyme precursor. All were identified. All oral leukoplakia cases were immunopositive for CK10, mainly in the superficial epithelial layers. CONCLUSIONS: The 2DE salivary protein profiles of individuals with and without oral leukoplakia were observably different. CK10 appears to be an interesting protein and should be further studied in oral carcinogenesis. SIGNIFICANCE: MS-based proteomics enables large-scale analysis of proteins. Proteomics can provide detailed descriptions of proteomes of cells and tissues, including body fluids, and appears as a powerful tool to study human disorders. Saliva is readily accessible through non invasive collection and can mirror diverse disease states. Saliva from both diseased and healthy subjects can be analyzed through 2DE and differences between groups could be found. Routine immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed one of these findings, with CK10 being positive tissues from individuals with oral leukoplakia. Therefore, the present study allows insights into development of an important potential oral cancer precursor, named oral leukoplakia. However, the results can be extrapolated and tested in other precancer states, such as proliferative verrucous leukoplakia, patients at risk of oral cancer due to lifestyle behavior and/or cancer history in the family or even those who are under surveillance after a treated primary oral cancer.

Padronização da análise de mutações no gene TP53 em carcinomas de células escamosas de boca em material parafinado / Standardization of TP53 gene mutations analysis on oral squamous cell carcinoma from paraffin-embedded tissues

Introduction: The tumor protein p53 gene (TP53) is a constant target of investigation in cancer pathogenesis. Analysis by immunohistochemistry provides limited data about p53 in oral carcinogenesis, and TP53 sequencing can contribute to this analysis. However, obtaining high-quality and contamination-free deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) for a proper amplification can be a difficult task when using paraffin-embedded tissues. Objective: Standardize DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and DNA sequencing techniques for TP53 mutation analysis. Material and methods: Thirty-nine cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were selected from the Pathology Division of Instituto Nacional de Câncer (Inca). The DNA extraction method used was the QIAamp® DNA minikit® system. After DNA quantification by spectrophotometry, 250 ng of genetic material obtained from TP53 gene were amplified by PCR for exon 2 and by nested PCR for exon 6. Out of the total sample, 11 cases were selected for exon 2 sequencing. Results: The DNA samples presented mean concentration of 119.74 ± 88.86 ng/µl (28.9-556.4) and purity of 1.69 ± 0.18 (1-1.9). Thirty-three (84.6%) samples were amplified for exon 2, and all samples for exon 6 (39/100%). Readable sequencing data were obtained in 10 (90.9%) cases. Conclusion: Optimization of conditions for TP53 sequencing was obtained, and this will facilitate the analysis of mutations in paraffin-embedded tissues, allowing molecular retrospective studies...

Introdução: O gene TP53 (proteína tumoral p53) é alvo constante de investigação na patogênese do câncer. A imuno-histoquímica fornece dados limitados na análise de p53 no processo da carcinogênese bucal e o sequenciamento de TP53 pode contribuir nessa investigação. Contudo, a obtenção de ácido desoxirribonucleico (DNA) com qualidade para amplificação e livre de contaminação pode constituir uma tarefa difícil na utilização de material parafinado. Objetivo: Padronizar as técnicas de extração de DNA, amplificação por reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) e sequenciamento para a análise de mutações em TP53. Material e métodos: Foram selecionados 39 casos de carcinomas de células escamosas bucal da Divisão de Patologia do Instituto Nacional de Câncer (Inca). O DNA foi extraído utilizando o sistema comercial QIAamp® DNA minikit®. Após quantificação do DNA por espectrofotometria, 250 ng de amostra foram amplificados pela técnica de PCR para o éxon 2 e por nested PCR para o éxon 6 do gene TP53. Da amostra total, 11 casos foram selecionados para a padronização da reação de sequenciamento do éxon 2. Resultados: As amostras de DNA apresentaram concentração média de 119,74 ng/µl ± 88,86 (28,9-556,4 ng/µl) e pureza de 1,69 ± 0,18 (1-1,9). Do total das amostras analisadas, 33 (84,6%) foram amplificadas para o éxon 2, e todas (39/100%), para o éxon 6. No sequenciamento do éxon 2 obtiveram-se sequências passíveis de leitura em 10 (90,9%) casos. Conclusão: A otimização das condições para o sequenciamento de TP53 foi obtida, o que facilitará a análise de mutações em tecidos parafinados, permitindo...

Sialolito de grandes dimensões no ducto da glândula submandibular / Large sialolith in the submandibular gland duct

O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever o caso de um sialolito de grandes dimensões em glândula submandibular. Paciente do sexo feminino, leucoderma, 53 anos, procurou o cirurgião-dentista queixando-se de xerostomia, dor e inchaço na região de assoalho bucal, principalmente observado durante as refeições. O exame físico revelou uma tumefação em região submandibular esquerda, sensível a palpação, além de aumento de volume intra-oral firme, na região sublingual esquerda. Ao ordenhar a glândula submandibular, houve saída de pus. A radiografia oclusal inferior evidenciou extensa imagem radiopaca extensa, bem delimitada, cilíndrica e alongada. A associação dos exames clínicos e radiográficos levou ao diagnóstico de cálculo salivar. Foi realizada excisão cirúrgica da lesão sob anestesia local, com preservação da glândula submandibular. O exame anatomopatológico do cálculo revelou, na macroscopia, uma peça cirúrgica de consistência dura e cor amarela medindo 2,2 cm de diâmetro e, na microscopia, a presença de laminações concêntricas de material calcificado. A paciente encontra-se em acompanhamento há 2 anos e 8 meses, sem queixas de função glandular ou fluxo salivar, sem aumento de volume e exame radiográfico sem alterações. Apesar das grandes dimensões do sialolito, sua localização próxima à saída do dueto permitiu um tratamento conservador com bons resultados para a paciente.

This paper aims to describe a case of a large submandibular sialolith. A 53-year-old Caucasian female looked for for her dentist complaining of xerostomia, pain and swelling in the floor of the mouth, mainly observed during meals. The physical exam revealed a tender swelling on palpation in the left submandibular region, and also a firm intraoral swelling was detected in the left sublingual region. It was possible to draw pus from the submandibular gland. Mandibular occlusal radiography showed an extensive cylindrical and elongated, well-defined radiopaque image in the floor of the mouth. The association of clinical and radiographic findings led to the diagnosis of salivary calculus. The lesion was submitted to surgical excision under local anesthesia and the submandibular gland was maintened. Macroscopic analysis revealed a yellow and hard in consistency specimen, measuring 2.2 cm in length, and microscopic analysis revealed the presence of concentric laminations of calcified material associated with . The patient is being followed up for 2 years and 8 months, with no complaints of salivary flow or gland dysfunction, without gland swelling and no radiographic changes. Despite it being a large sialolith, its location near the exit of the duct allowed a conservative treatment with satisfactory aesthetic and functional results for the patient.

Usefulness of tissue autofluorescence imaging in actinic cheilitis diagnosis.

Actinic cheilitis (AC) is a potentially malignant disorder of the lips. Because of its heterogeneous clinical aspect, it is difficult to indicate representative biopsy area. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of tissue autofluorescence in AC diagnosis. The system was composed of a 405-nm light-emitting diode, sent to the sample by a dichroic, that allows the fluorescence signal to reach a camera directly plugged in the system. Fifty-seven patients with clinical diagnosis of AC and 45 normal volunteers were selected. According to clinical and fluorescence features, one or more areas were selected for biopsies in the AC group and epithelial dysplasia (ED) grades were established. The autofluorescence images were processed by a clustering algorithm for AC automated diagnosis. The tissue autofluorescence image revealed a heterogeneous pattern of loss and increase of fluorescence in patients with AC. ED was found in 93% of the cases, and most of the areas graded as moderate or severe ED were chosen with the aid of autofluorescence. The processed autofluorescence images from AC patients showed a higher number of spots in an irregular pattern. Tissue autofluorescence image system is a useful technique in association with clinical examination for AC diagnosis.

The significance of p53 immunoexpression with different clones (DO-7 and PAb-240) in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The TP53 gene is a tumor suppressor gene. Its product is a nuclear protein that regulates cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and DNA repair. Anti-p53 clones DO-7 and PAb-240 recognize the amino acid sequences 21-25 and 213-217, respectively. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of these clones and their relationship with clinicopathological features and survival analysis in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). METHODS: Information on 53 primary OSCC was collected at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute. An immunohistochemical method was applied to evaluate p53 expression (DO-7 and PAb-240). Their expression was analyzed quantitatively and correlated with clinicopathological features. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log rank test were used. RESULTS: Immunopositivity for DO-7 was present in 64% of the cases, while 58% were positive for PAb-240. There was no correlation between immunoexpression of both antibodies and clinicopathological features or survival analysis. DO-7 expression was significantly higher (p = 0.001) than that of PAb-240. CONCLUSIONS: There were quantitative differences between the expression of the antibodies studied, which may reflect a different specificity of each one. To confirm immunohistochemical results and estimate the true prognostic role of TP53 in OSCC, it is important to perform mutation analysis.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma grading systems--analysis of the best survival predictor.

BACKGROUND: The TNM system has been used for decades in an attempt to predict clinical behavior and appropriate therapy for oral squamous cell carcinomas. Histopathologic classifications can be useful as an additional predictive tool. The purpose of this study was to apply four grading systems (Multiparameter Grading System, Malignancy Grading of the Deep Invasive Margins, World Health Organization grading system, and Histologic Risk Assessment) to oral squamous cell carncinomas and evaluate each system based on clinicopathologic parameters and patient survival. METHODS: The files of 53 patients diagnosed with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute were evaluated. All hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were reviewed to confirm the original diagnosis and to determine histopathologic grading. Clinicopathologic information was obtained from medical records and tumor registries. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test or the chi-square test, the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test. RESULTS: The Multiparameter Grading System was statistically associated with pathologic staging (P = 0.02) and lymph node involvement (P = 0.0009). Differences in overall 5-year survival were significant for Histologic Risk Assessment (P = 0.015), pathologic staging (P = 0.001), lymph node status (P < 0.0001), and recurrence (P = 0.0001). Differences in cancer-specific 5-year survival were significant for Histologic Risk Assessment (P = 0.029), pathologic staging (P = 0.002), lymph node involvement (P < 0.0001), and recurrence (P < 0.0001). Poorly differentiated tumors were associated with the worst disease-free survival (P = 0.031) and recurrence (P = 0.043). CONCLUSION: Of the grading systems evaluated, Histologic Risk Assessment demonstrated the best results for survival prediction in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma: clinicopathological features in patients with and without recurrence.

AIM: To compare the clinicopathological profile of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in groups with and without recurrence. METHODS: Records of all patients who underwent surgery for primary OSCC at a single institution during 1999 were identified. Patient demographics, lesion site, clinical and pathologic stage, pathologic grading, pattern of invasion, lymphocytic infiltrate, perineural invasion, and treatment and survival data were collected. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each variable and survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox models. Patients were divided into 2 groups: with (n = 25) and without (n = 28) recurrence. RESULTS: Tongue (p = 0.02) and poorly differentiated (p = 0.04) tumors were associated with recurrence. Kaplan-Meier and Cox models revealed tobacco use and the absence of lymphocytic infiltrate to be associated with the poorest survival in recurrent OSCC. CONCLUSION: The tumor site, tobacco use, and pathological features were involved in the recurrence of OSCC and should be taken into account for OSCC treatment and follow-up.

Comparative proteomic analysis of whole saliva from chronic periodontitis patients.

Chronic periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory process affecting tooth supporting tissues in the presence of pathogenic bacterial biofilm. There is some evidence for changes in the protein composition of whole saliva from chronic periodontitis patients, but there have been no studies using a proteomic approach. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare the protein profiles of unstimulated whole saliva from patients with periodontitis and healthy subjects by two complementary approaches (2D-gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography). Protein spots of interest were analyzed by MALDI-TOF-TOF, and the data was complemented by an ESI-Q-TOF experiment. The analyses revealed that subjects with periodontal disease have increased amounts of blood proteins (serum albumin and hemoglobin) and immunoglobulin, and they have a lower abundance of cystatin compared to the control group. A higher number of protein spots were observed in the periodontitis group, of which most were identified as alpha-amylase. This higher number of alpha-amylase variants seems to be caused by hydrolysis by cysteine proteases under such inflammatory conditions. This approach gives novel insights into alterations of salivary protein in presence of periodontal inflammation and may contribute to the improvement of periodontal diagnosis.

Recurrent bilateral gingival peripheral calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (Pindborg tumor): a case report.

Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT) is an extremely rare, benign neoplasm, accounting for approximately 1% of all odontogenic tumors. Peripheral CEOTs commonly resemble oral hyperplastic or reactive lesions and are histologically similar to their intraosseous counterparts. We report an unusual case of multifocal peripheral CEOT. A 40-year-old female presented with bilateral soft, painful, erythematous, gingival swellings localized in premolar areas of the mandibular gingiva. The presumptive diagnosis was bilateral pyogenic granuloma. The masses were surgically excised under local anesthesia without bone curettage and both recurred 12 months later. Morphologic features, and histochemical and immunohistochemical tests revealed bilateral peripheral calcifying odontogenic epithelial tumor. There is no clinical or radiographic evidence of recurrence 3.5 years after excision. This multifocal phenomenon has been reported previously only for intraosseous CEOT. Gingival masses must be carefully evaluated for clinical and histologic evidence of neoplasia.

Associação da classificação da OMS e da AHR com fatores clínico-patológicos do câncer de boca / WHO classification and HRA association with clinico pathological features of oral cancer prognostic factors

Estudos demonstram que as classificações histopatológicas auxiliam na análise do grau de malignidade do carcinoma de células escamosas (CCE) bucal. Esse trabalho estudou o perfil de 44 pacientes diagnosticados no Inca, em 1999, aplicando as classificações histopatológicas da OMS e a Avaliação Histopatológica de Risco(AHR), associando-as com fatores clínico-patológicos. A maioria dos carcinomas foi classificada como moderadamente diferenciada e de risco intermediário. A associação da OMS e da AHR com as variáveis clínico-patológicas estudadas não mostrou resultados estatisticamente significativos. Recomenda-se a aplicação das classificações utilizadas em amostra ampliada, a fim de validar os resultados apresentados.

Análise de sobrevida global em pacientes diagnosticados com carcinoma de células escamosas de boca no INCA no ano de 1999 / Overall survival analysis in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients diagnosed at the National Cancer Institute in 1999

O carcinoma de células escamosas de boca compreende cerca de 90 a 95 por cento de todas as neoplasias malignas da boca e é um dos tipos de câncer mais frequentes no Brasil. O índice de sobrevida em 5 anos é baixo e permaneceu estável nas últimas décadas, apesar dos avanços nas terapias. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o perfil e a sobrevida global dos pacientes diagnosticados com carcinoma de células escamosas de boca no ano de 1999 no Instituto Nacional de Câncer. Dos 320 pacientes incluídos no estudo, 79,4 por cento eram homens. A idade média foi de 56,7 anos, e 82,2 por cento deles fumavam e/ou bebiam. A língua, seguida do assoalho de boca foram os locais mais acometidos. A maioria (68,9 por cento) dos pacientes foi diagnosticada em estádios tardios e submetida à radioterapia exclusiva (53,6 por cento). A sobrevida média no período do estudo foi de 29,4 meses. Os pacientes dos estádios iniciais apresentaram maior sobrevida, assim como aqueles submetidos apenas à cirurgia como forma de tratamento e os que não apresentaram linfonodos acometidos ao diagnóstico. Tumores localizados em palato duro e mucosa jugal apresentaram pior prognóstico. Foram fatores preditivos independentes de melhor sobrevida os tumores T1 ou T2 (p=0,001), sem acometimento de linfonodos (p=0,012) e não localizados em mucosa jugal (p=0,021). O diagnóstico do câncer oral ainda se faz em estádios tardios, o que influencia negativamente a sobrevida global dos pacientes. Maior ênfase deve ser dada à capacitação dos profissionais para o reconhecimento precoce do câncer e à conscientização da população de risco.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all malignant neoplasms of the mouth and it is one of most common cancers in Brazil. Five-year survival rates remain low and have not improved over the past decades, despite advances in therapy. The purpose of this study was to analyze the features and overall survival of patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma in 1999 at the National Institute of Cancer. Male patients (79.4 percent) with a medium age of 56.7 years, with smoking or drinking habits (82.2 percent) comprised most of the sample. Tongue and floor of the mouth were the most prevalent sites of occurrence. Patients were diagnosed mainly at advanced stages of the disease (68.9 percent stages III and IV) and were treated with radiation therapy alone (53.6 percent). Mean survival was 29.4 months, and patients diagnosed in early stages had better survival rates, as well as those who were surgically treated and those who did not show cervical node metastasis at diagnosis. Tumors located in the palate or in the buccal mucosa presented the worst prognosis. Cox regression analysis showed that T1 or T2 lesions (p=0.001), with no neck metastasis (p=0.012) and anatomic site other than buccal mucosa (p=0.021) were independent predictive factors of a better survival rate. Oral cancer diagnosis still occurs in advanced stages, and it negatively influences overall survival, so there should be efforts to prepare and train professionals to recognize lesions at early stages and to make the population at greatest risk aware of the disease.

Expression of Bcl-2 family proteins and associated clinicopathologic factors predict survival outcome in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The aims of this study were to assess the expression levels of three proteins involved in apoptosis--Bcl-2, Bcl-X, and Bax--and evaluate their relationship with clinicopathologic features and survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate protein expression in 53 primary OSCCs treated by radical surgery with free margins at a single institution in 1999. Histologic specimens were graded and analyzed for perineural invasion, lymphocytic infiltrate, and pattern of invasion. Digital image analysis was performed to quantify immunostaining. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox's proportional hazard model. Cancer-specific 5-year survival (CSS) was 61% (56% overall survival (OS), and 51% disease-free interval (DFI)). Kaplan-Meier analysis identified pathologic stage (p=0.0007, log-rank test, OS), negative nodes status (pN) (p<0.0001, log-rank test, OS), presence of lymphocytic infiltrate (p=0.0084, log-rank test, OS), and high Bax expression (p=0.025, log-rank test, OS) to each be associated with both better OS and CSS. Tongue tumors (p=0.0179, log-rank test), worst pattern of invasion (p=0.0293, log-rank test), lack of lymphocytic infiltrate (p=0.0328, log-rank test), perineural invasion (p=0.0448, log-rank test), poorly differentiated tumors (p=0.0318, log-rank test), and low Bcl-X expression (p=0.044, log-rank test) were all associated with a low DFI. Cox regression found pN, lymphocytic infiltrate, and Bax expression to be independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS, whereas lymphocytic response and tongue tumors were predictors of DFI. Bcl-2 expression emerged as an independent marker of favorable CSS. Lymphocytic infiltrate was the most meaningful histopathologic parameter in survival analysis, whereas expression of Bcl-2 family members seems to be an important marker of a favorable prognosis in OSCC.