Cytogenetic damage in exfoliated oral mucosal cells and circulating lymphocytes of patients suffering from precancerous oral lesions

• Published in: Cancer letters Vol. 109; no. 1; pp. 9 - 14
• Main Authors: Desai, S.S., Ghaisas, S.D., Jakhi, S.D., Bhide, S.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 03.12.1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Areca; Biological and medical sciences; Circulating lymphocytes; Cytogenetic damage; DNA Damage; Female; Fibrosis - epidemiology; Fibrosis - pathology; Humans; India - epidemiology; Leukoplakia, Oral - epidemiology; Leukoplakia, Oral - pathology; Lichen Planus - epidemiology; Lichen Planus - pathology; Lymphocytes - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Micronucleus Tests; Middle Aged; Mouth Diseases - epidemiology; Mouth Diseases - pathology; Mouth Mucosa - pathology; Mouth Neoplasms - epidemiology; Mouth Neoplasms - pathology; Oral lesions; Oral mucosal cells; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Plants, Medicinal; Precancerous Conditions - epidemiology; Precancerous Conditions - pathology; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; India; Oral lesions; Oral mucosal cells; Circulating lymphocytes; Cytogenetic damage; Human; Premalignant lesion; Stomatology; Pathogenesis; Mucosa; Exploration; Chewing; Lichen planus; Betel nut; Carcinogenesis; Inhalation; Carcinogen; Oral cavity; Tobacco; Leukoplasia; Fibrosis; Cytogenetics; Oral cavity disease; Life habit
• ISSN: 0304-3835; 1872-7980
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3835(96)04390-X

One hundred patients suffering from oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral lichen planus (OLP) were studied for the cytogenetic damage in oral mucosal cells and in circulating lymphocytes along with their habit patterns. It was observed that OSF was largely associated with betel nut containing masticants while OL was associated with chewing or smoking habit. It was further observed that their exfoliated oral mucosal cells had significantly higher numbers of micronucleated (Mn) cells as compared to those of healthy normal subjects without any chewing or smoking habit. Similar cytogenetic damage in the form of increased sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) was observed in circulating lymphocytes indicating that the carcinogenic agents produce damage not only in target tissue but also in other host cells such as circulating lymphocytes.