Abstract
Background: Carcinogens and co-carcinogens act in an additive, synergistic and antagonistic manner. Tobacco is the most common carcinogen related to oral cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of tobacco on the oral epithelium by evaluating genotoxic damage to cells as quantitated by micronuclei and also the alterations to the cell membrane were correlated by the measurement of free sialic acid and protein-bound sialic acid in saliva and in serum. Materials and Methods: Blood samples collected from 15 untreated oral squamous cell carcinoma patients, 15 patients with oral precancerous conditions, 15 tobacco chewers without clinically evident lesion and 15 non-tobacco chewers. Serum and salivary sialic acid levels both in free and bound form were measured spectrophotometrically. Smear was taken from the same patient from the suspicious site and assessment of micronuclei was done by acridine orange method. Results: Serum free sialic acid and micronuclei assessment showed greater level of signifi cance (P=?0.05) between all other groups. This implies it’s potential use as an indicator of oral cancer. Predictability of occurrence of oral Cancer = 0.561+ 0.005× serum protein-bound sialic acid+ 0.244 serum free sialic acid + 0.71 M, where M=mean of micronuclei in 500 exfoliated oral cells. Predictability of occurrence of oral Premalignancy = 0.13+ 0.909× serum free sialic acid+ 0.045 M, where M=mean of micronuclei in 500 exfoliated oral cells. Conclusion: Micronuclei, serum and salivary sialic acid levels may be a good marker for prediction of premalignancy and oral squamous cell carcinoma transformation. Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, No.1, Issue 5, 379-385 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i5.7862
Highlights
Human population groups are exposed to a variety of carcinogens and co-carcinogens that can act in an additive, synergistic and antagonistic manner.[1,2] Of the carcinogens tobacco is the most common carcinogen related to oralCorrespondence: Dr Samarika Dahal Department of dentistry Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal cancer as it causes DNA damage or chromosome damage by direct contact and exposure to the oral epithelial cells.Among the various tests available to measure genotoxic damage the micronucleus test has received increased attention as a sensitive biologic marker of genotoxic exposure
Recent studies have been directed towards the estimation of levels of Total Sialic Acid (TSA), Free Sialic Acid (FSA), Protein-bound Sialic Acid (PBSA) and Lipid-Associated Sialic Acid (LASA) in premalignant and malignant lesions.[5, 6]
Post hoc analysis by Bonferroni’s correction test showed the Variation between Premalignant lesions (PML) and Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was indicated by serum PBSA and serum FSA, Salivary FSA and PBSA was significantly varied in controls and PML (Table 4)
Summary
Human population groups are exposed to a variety of carcinogens and co-carcinogens that can act in an additive, synergistic and antagonistic manner.[1,2] Of the carcinogens tobacco is the most common carcinogen related to oral. Any intracellular or micro-environmental change may lead to alteration in cell surface membrane constituents, releasing altered molecules in the blood and saliva of such patients. One such glycoprotein gaining acceptance as a serological marker for OSCC diagnosis is sialic acid.[4] Recent studies have been directed towards the estimation of levels of Total Sialic Acid (TSA), Free Sialic Acid (FSA), Protein-bound Sialic Acid (PBSA) and Lipid-Associated Sialic Acid (LASA) in premalignant and malignant lesions.[5, 6]. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of tobacco on the oral epithelium by evaluating genotoxic damage to cells as quantitated by micronuclei and the alterations to the cell membrane were correlated by the measurement of free sialic acid and protein-bound sialic acid in saliva and in serum
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