Assessment of Relationship of ABO Blood Groups in Oral Cancer Patients - A Retrospective Study

Oral cancers preceded by proliferative verrucous leukoplakia exhibit distinctive molecular features

OBJECTIVE

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) has high rates of malignant transformation into oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but the clinical and evolutionary pattern of OSCC from PVL (PVL-OSCC) is more favorable than that of OSCC not preceded by PVL (OSCC). Here, we aimed to explore the pathophysiologic differences between PVL-OSCC and OSCC through transcriptomic and DNA methylation analyses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this case-control study, oral biopsies from 8 PVL-OSCC and 10 OSCC patients were obtained for global sequencing using RNAseq and a genome-wide DNA methylation analysis via the Infinium EPIC Platform (graphical abstract).

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-three differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected, 94 of them upregulated in OSCC. Most of these genes were previously described in cancer and associated with prognosis. The integrative analysis revealed 26 DEGs, corresponding to 37 CpGs, whose promoters were regulated by DNA methylation. Twenty-nine of the CpGs were found as hypermethylated in PVL-OSCC. Only 5 of the genes that were aberrantly methylated and differentially expressed were upregulated in PVL-OSCC patients, whereas 21 were underexpressed.

CONCLUSIONS

PVL-OSCC patients presented lower expression of cancer-related genes. Hypermethylation of the promoter region of many genes was also noticed, indicating that DNA methylation could be a regulatory mechanism.

Nutritional Management of Oncological Symptoms: A Comprehensive Review

Throughout their experience of illness and during the course of treatment, a substantial proportion of cancer patients are prone to develop nutritional and/or metabolic disturbances. Additionally, cancer patients often encounter long-term side effects from therapies, which may lead to impaired digestion, nutrient absorption or bowel motility. Therefore, the preservation and maintenance of an optimal and balanced nutritional status are pivotal to achieving a better prognosis, increasing the tolerance and adherence to cancer therapies and improving the overall quality of life. In this context, personalized nutritional programs are essential for addressing conditions predisposing to weight loss, feeding difficulties, digestion problems and intestinal irregularity, with the goal of promoting adequate nutrient absorption and minimizing the detrimental effects of treatment regimens. The focus of this research is to examine the most common clinical conditions and metabolic changes that cancer patients may experience, including stomatitis, xerostomia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dysphagia, sub-occlusion, dysgeusia, dysosmia, anorexia, and cachexia. Furthermore, we present a pragmatic example of a multidisciplinary workflow that incorporates customized recipes tailored to individual clinical scenarios, all while maintaining the hedonic value of the meals.

Protective Effect of Alpha-Linolenic Acid on Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastasis and Apoptotic Cell Death

Oral cancer ranks sixth among Taiwan's top 10 cancers and most patients with poor prognosis acquire metastases. The essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) has been found to diminish many cancer properties. However, the anti-cancer activity of ALA in oral cancer has yet to be determined. We examined the mechanisms underlying ALA inhibition of metastasis and induction of apoptotic cell death in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Migration and invasion assays confirmed the cancer cells' EMT capabilities, whereas flow cytometry and Western blotting identified molecular pathways in OSCC. ALA dramatically reduced cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner according to the findings. Low concentrations of ALA (100 or 200 μM) inhibit colony formation, the expression of Twist and EMT-related proteins, the expression of MMP2/-9 proteins, and enzyme activity, as well as cell migration and invasion. Treatment with high concentrations of ALA (200 or 400 μM) greatly increases JNK phosphorylation and c-jun nuclear accumulation and then upregulates the FasL/caspase8/caspase3 and Bid/cytochrome c/caspase9/caspase3 pathways, leading to cell death. Low concentrations of ALA inhibit SAS and GNM cell migration and invasion by suppressing Twist and downregulating EMT-related proteins or by decreasing the protein expression and enzyme activity of MMP-2/-9, whereas high concentrations of ALA promote apoptosis by activating the JNK/FasL/caspase 8/caspase 3-extrinsic pathway and the Bid/cytochrome c/caspase 9 pathway. ALA demonstrates potential as a treatment for OSCC patients.

Assessment of Oral Lesions With Tobacco Usage: A Cross-Sectional Clinicopathological Study in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India

Background Tobacco usage in the form of smoking or chewing has increased the risk of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral cancer. These deleterious habits are also related to changes in dentition and the oral mucosa. Aim The aim of our study was to evaluate the oral changes associated with tobacco usage among residents of Sri Ganganagar. Materials and methods This study was conducted among the residents of Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India, using stratified cluster random sampling, prestructured questionnaires, and detailed oral examination. A total of 100 patients with a previous history of tobacco usage were enrolled in this study after obtaining informed consent. Age- and gender-matched controls were also evaluated to correlate the findings. Clinical details were documented, including the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), Decayed-Missing-Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, Community Periodontal Index (CPI), loss of attachment, dental findings, and oral mucosal changes. Suspicious lesions were stained with toluidine blue, and a biopsy was performed for histopathological evaluation. The tabulated results were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY, USA) for significance. Results Attrition, abrasion, and erosion of teeth were more frequent in tobacco users than in controls. Smoker's palate, tobacco pouch keratosis, and leukoplakia were commonly noted mucosal lesions. The mean values of the parameters of the DMFT score (3.560), CPI score (2.190), and loss of attachment score (0.542) were higher among tobacco users, and it was statistically significant (P value < 0.05). Out of 100 patients, 17 had suspicious lesions. It included seven cases of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), two cases of tobacco pouch keratosis, and eight cases of leukoplakia. Toluidine blue staining and biopsy were performed. Histopathological examination of suspicious lesions revealed hyperkeratosis, various grades of epithelial dysplasia, and differing inflammatory responses. Out of 17 biopsied cases, there were two cases of hyperkeratosis with severe epithelial dysplasia, four cases of hyperkeratosis with moderate epithelial dysplasia, two cases of hyperkeratosis with mild dysplasia, two cases of superficially invasive squamous cell carcinoma, five cases of advanced OSMF, and two cases of moderately advanced OSMF. Conclusion Tobacco usage produces visible changes in dentition and latent alterations in the oral mucosa. Suspicious lesions should always be referred for histopathological examination to identify oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer so that prompt treatment could be initiated. Patient education is mandatory to avoid the usage of tobacco in any form.