Abstract
BackgroundKhat leaves contain the alkaloid cathinone. Research shows that khat might provoke toxicity, mutagenicity, as well as carcinogenicity.MethodsTwo groups were identified as khat abusers and were categorized by abuse time and diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Here, 41 participants from Group 2 were short-term khat users, and 42 participants were long-term khat users. The control group included 30 healthy individuals.The coding exons included nine cancer-related genes and were analysed. The histopathological research was conducted with H&E staining along with the TP53 protein expression by implementing immunohistochemical analyses.ResultsHere, 41 short-term khat users carried seven somatic mutations in four out of nine cancer-related genes: 29/41(70.73%) ARID1A, 24/41(58.53%) MLH1, 34/41(82.92%) PIK3CA and 36/41(87.80%) TP53. The 42 long-term khat users incorporated nine somatic mutations in five out of nin ecancer-related genes: 40/42(95.23%) ARID1A, 36/42(85.71%) ARID2, 29/42(69.04%) PIK3CA, 27/42(64.28%) MLH1, and 35/42(83.33%) TP53. Every khat user had somatic mutations related to OSCC affecting the gingiva and the lower lip. TP53 protein expression was confirmed in all immunohistochemical oral tests. Carcinoma was also positive in the histopathological analysis.ConclusionsKhat is a mutagenic and carcinogenic plant that provoked OSCC among short-term khat users (<15 years of use) and long-term users (>15 years of use).
Highlights
Every khat user had somatic mutations related to Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) affecting the gingiva and the lower lip
TP53 protein expression was confirmed in all immunohistochemical oral tests
Cancer related to the lips and oral cavity begin from mutations in squamous cells within thin and flat cells of the oral space
Summary
Research shows that khat might provoke toxicity, mutagen‐ icity, as well as carcinogenicity. Some epidemiological researches shows that with gradual reduction of oral cancer’s incidences in general, lethal outcomes related to OSCC have markedly. The micro leftovers from the chewed plant typically stay in the mouth’s buccal sulcus in a unidirectional or bipartite position. If the leftovers stay in these positions for several hours, they still produce integral chemical elements [9, 11, 12]. Stimulants such as cathinone and cathine are included in khat’s biology, which explains why chewing the plant influences the user’s cognitive functions and emotional state
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