Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate if dental students with the habit of smoking exhibit alterations in the epithelial cells of the cheek mucosa on the nuclear area (NA), cytoplasmic area (CA) or in the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio (NA/CA), when compared to non-smokers. Methods This is a descriptive, experimental study using a control group. The sample comprised 40 dental undergraduates (20 smokers and 20 non-smokers). Individuals who smoked at least 5 or 6 cigarettes a day were deemed to be smokers, while non-smokers were those who reported having no experience of any form of smoking. The samples of epithelial cells were obtained from the oral mucosa using the liquid-based exfoliative cytology technique. The slides were processed in the laboratory, stained using the Papanicolau technique and were analyzed via an image analysis system (analySIS getIT). A structured questionnaire was applied with the aim of measuring independent variables related to personal characteristics, health and lifestyle behavior. Results The values obtained in the group of smokers were as follows: NA (169.4 µm² ± 17.0), CA (1240.1 µm² ± 128.9) and NA/CA ratio (0.1375 ± 0.01743). The results did not evidence significant differences when compared to the control group: NA (170.7 µm² ± 20.0), CA (1255.3 µm² ± 174.5) and NA/CA (0.1380 ± 0.01436). Conclusion It was not possible to observe significant cell alterations in the NA, CA or the NA/CA ratio of epithelial cells of the oral mucosa. Other risk factors associated with tobacco should be studied, principally the length of exposure to the properties of the causative agent.
Highlights
Cancer is characterized as a grouping of over 100 different types of disease that have in common a disorderly growth of potentially aggressive abnormal cells[1]
The values obtained in the group of smokers were as follows: nuclear area (NA) (169.4 μm2 ± 17.0), cytoplasmic area (CA) (1240.1 μm2 ± 128.9) and nucleus/cytoplasm ratio (NA/CA) ratio (0.1375 ± 0.01743)
The results did not evidence significant differences when compared to the control group: NA (170.7 μm2 ± 20.0), CA (1255.3 μm2 ± 174.5) and NA/CA (0.1380 ± 0.01436)
Summary
Cancer is characterized as a grouping of over 100 different types of disease that have in common a disorderly growth of potentially aggressive abnormal cells[1]. The risk factors associated with this disease include habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as diet, poor oral hygiene, exposure to ultraviolet solar radiation and other issues related to infection by HPV, periodontitis, genetics, stress and depression[1,3]. Current research shows that the oral carcinogenesis process develops as a result of an abnormal acceleration of basal epithelial cells, resulting in a high level of mitotic activity, smoking being the crucial agent in this process of acceleration. This cell replication is identified through the Tumor Suppressor Protein, leading to an interruption in the cell cycle and, as a consequence, to apoptosis[5]
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