Abstract
BackgroundOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of oral cancer, in this study, the association between OSCC and oral yeast carriage was investigated.Findings20 patients having OSCC as well as 40 healthy controls were tested for the presence of yeasts in the oral cavity. Fungal burdens were examined by colony forming unit determinations, while the different yeast genera in patient samples were identified by matrix-associated laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry. We found that the level of oral yeast carriage was significantly higher in patients with OSCC that was accompanied by a higher diversity of yeasts in the oral cavity of these patients. We also examined the extracellular enzyme production of isolated Candida spp.; however, we found that there was no association between the lipase/protease producing capacity of Candida strains and the higher colonisation rate of neoplastic epithelium.ConclusionsIn conclusion, our results corroborate the findings of previous studies regarding the association between oral yeast carriage and epithelial carcinoma.
Highlights
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of oral cancer, in this study, the association between OSCC and oral yeast carriage was investigated
20 patients with confirmed OSCC as well as 40 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. 18 (90 %) of the 20 OSCC patients and 12 (30 %) of the healthy controls had yeast isolated from their oral cavity (Table 1), indicating that the frequency of oral yeast colonization was significantly higher in OSCC patients compared to the control group (Fisher’s exact test, p < 0.0001)
OSCC patients had a significantly higher average fungal burden in their oral cavity compared to healthy individuals (1.10 ± 0.78 CFU/cm2, Fig. 1a), and samples taken from the neoplastic surface contained more yeast cells (77.38 ± 38.53 CFU/cm2) compared to the swabs taken from the healthy epithelium of the same individual (28.58 ± 19.18 CFU/cm2, Fig. 1b)
Summary
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of oral cancer, in this study, the association between OSCC and oral yeast carriage was investigated. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of oral cancer, representing up to 80–90 % of all malignancies of the oral cavity (Pires et al 2013). The occurrence of OSCC has been associated with Candida infections, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are poorly understood (Mohd et al 2010). Candida species belong to the normal flora and are frequently isolated from various mucosal surfaces in healthy individuals (Sardi et al 2013). They may cause cutaneous or systemic infections when the immunity of the host is compromised. Little is known about the role of fungal infections in cancer, Candida spp. have long been implicated in various
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
