Quantification of Viable Aerobic Bacteria in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Tissue – A Microbiological Approach

Abstract

Despite increasing interest in the possible relationships between bacteria and the different stages of cancer development, the association of bacteria with cancer of the oral cavity has yet to be adequately examined. With that in mind, the primary objective of our study was to determine microbiologically the presence of viable aerobic bacteria in the lesional tissue of diagnosed cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma & in apparently normal tissue atleast 5cm. away from the cancerous lesion and to determine presence of viable aerobic bacteria in normal tissue surgically removed from patients undergoing surgery for non-neoplastic & non-inflammed lesions and then to compare among them. Cancerous lesions were removed surgically, and resected OSCC specimens were harvested under aseptic conditions. The specimen was placed on a sterile surface & with a new blade for each cut a 1cm 3 specimen was removed without compromising the pathological margins. The specimen was further divided into upper level, middle level and lower level of the lesion. Whenever possible, a control specimen consisting of non-tumourous tissues harvested at least 5cm away from the primary lesion was also obtained. All subsequent handling of the specimens was carried out using aseptic technique on surfaces cleaned with phenolic disinfectant. Tissue specimens were placed in betadine for 3 mins to disinfect the surfaces of each. Subsequently, tissues are placed in multiple labeled bottles of PBS (phosphate- buffered saline) to encourage the removal of any bacteria on the tissue surface and stored in deep freezer. Successful surface decontamination of the specimens indicates that the bacteria detected were from within the tissue. Bacteria have been cultured from within oral squamous cell carcinoma tissue. The significance of these bacteria within the tumor warrants further study.