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Background: Platelet-derived growth factors alpha (PDGFA) is a tyrosine kinase receptor activator which is known to be amplified in the malignancies, and their expression levels are correlated to tumor progression and reduced overall survival. The expression of PDGFRA is different among the tumors and normal tissues; furthermore, their expression level is site specific. Under a physiological condition, PDGFRA and its ligand are expressed in distinct cell populations and activated in a paracrine manner. Nevertheless, heterodimer characteristic of PDGFRA allows it to be trans-activated by non-specific ligands or via autocrine manner. The future of cancer therapy can be based on PDGFRA receptor blockade and therefore warrants further investigation to determine the differing expression of PDGFRA between controls and patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Methods: We performed a case-control study of 111 patients with newly diagnosed tongue squamous cell carcinoma and 111 control subjects without a cancer diagnosis, matched for age and gender, to evaluate the association between PDGFRA expression levels in oral mucosa. We then performed smoking stratification in each cohort. Independent t test analysis was applied for case-control comparisons.Results: Mean value of PDGFRA mRNA level (-ΔCt) for normal cohort is -30.242, whereas mean value of PDGFRA mRNA level for patients with OSCC is -11.516. PDGFRA mRNA level (-ΔCt) was significantly higher in oral cancer cohort, P<.001. Smokers have a significantly higher PDGFRA mRNA expression in comparison with non-smokers (P=.002) among the non-cancer group. Likewise, this trend is observed in cancer cohort too, P=.044.Conclusion: PDGFRA expression is significantly higher in oral cancer cohort with or without the establishment of tobacco risk factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Oral premalignant lesions (OPLs) are precursors of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Short telomeres in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) are associated with increased risks of several cancers. However, it is unclear whether short leukocyte telomere length (LTL) predisposes individuals to OPL and OSCC. METHODS LTL was measured in PBLs from 266 patients who had a diagnosis of either OPL (N = 174) or OSCC (N = 92) and from 394 age-matched and sex-matched controls. The association between LTL and the risk of OPL or OSCC, as well as the interaction of telomere length, cigarette smoking, and alcohol drinking on the risk of OPL or OSCC, were analyzed. RESULTS The age-adjusted relative LTL was shortest in the OSCC group (1.64 ± 0.29), intermediate in the OPL group (1.75 ± 0.43), and longest in the control group (1.82 ± 0.36; Ptrend < .001). When the analysis was dichotomized at the median value in controls, adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, and alcohol drinking status, the odds ratio for the risk of OPL and OSCC associated with short LTL was 2.03 (95% confidence interval, 1.29-3.21) and 3.47 (95% CI, 1.84-6.53), respectively, with significant dose-response effects for both associations. Among 174 patients with OPL, 23 progressed to OSCC, and the mean LTL was shorter in progressors than in nonprogressors (mean ± standard deviation: 1.66 ± 0.35 vs 1.77 ± 0.44, respectively), although the difference did not reach statistical significance ( P = .258), probably because of the small number of progressors. An interaction analysis identified short LTL, smoking, and drinking alcohol as independent risk factors for OPL and OSCC. CONCLUSIONS Short LTL was associated with increased risks of developing OPL and OSCC. The current results also indicated that short LTL likely predisposes patients to the malignant progression of OPL. Cancer 2013;119:4277-4283. © 2013 American Cancer Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Functional polymorphisms ( SNPs) of the vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) are associated with the incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma ( OSCC). An impact of VEGF- SNPs on prognosis of OSCC patients seems possible. Therefore, correlations between prognostic parameters of OSCC patients and five VEGF- SNPs were determined. Materials and Methods In a retrospective long-term study, in 113 OSCC patients that underwent curative resections, five VEGF- SNPs (−1154 G/A, +405 G/C, +936 C/T, −2578 C/A, and −460 C/T) were analyzed. Associations between SNPs and prognosis (incidence of local recurrent disease, second cancer, metastases, death, total disease-free survival) were examined. Results After a mean follow-up time of 57.6 months, 32 patients had local recurrences; 15 patients had second cancer, 15 patients metastases, and 23 patients died. The mean disease-free survival was 43.1 months. A significant increased incidence of OSCC in smokers with the VEGF −2578 A/C and −460 C/T SNP was seen (each P < 0.0001). In univariate analysis, patients with advanced OSCCs ( T > 2 or N > 0) together with the −1154 A/A allele had a significant worse survival and a worse disease-free survival (both P < 0.04). The same was seen for the +405 G/G SNP (both P = 0.002). In multivariate analysis, only the negative influence of the +405 G/G SNP on survival in advanced OSCCs ( T > 2) could be confirmed ( P = 0.002). Discussion Possible reciprocal interactions between smoking and VEGF- SNP function were observed. Multivariate analysis confirmed the VEGF +405 G/G genotype to be associated with poor survival in advanced OSCCs; a further use of this haplotype as biomarker has to be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Production of carcinogenic acetaldehyde by Candida has been suggested to contribute to epithelial dysplasia and oral carcinogenesis. Oral lichen planus ( OLP), oral lichenoid lesion ( OLL) and oral leukoplakia ( OL) are potentially carcinogenic oral diseases where colonisation by Candida is common, but acetaldehyde production by Candida has not been studied. Study Design Acetaldehyde production in ethanol (11 mM), glucose (100 mM), ethanol-glucose (11 mM and 100 mM) or red wine (1200 mM ethanol) incubation by Candida albicans from patients with OLL ( n = 6), OLP ( n = 16), OL ( n = 6) and controls ( n = 6) was measured by gas chromatography. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding their smoking habits and alcohol consumption. Results All Candida albicans isolates produced potentially carcinogenic levels of acetaldehyde (>100 μM) in all incubations containing ethanol. The control group isolates produced the highest acetaldehyde levels. Isolates from smokers produced more acetaldehyde in all incubations than those from non-smokers. The difference was significant in ethanol-glucose incubation. Isolates from patients who were both smokers and drinkers produced the highest amounts when incubated in ethanol, ethanol-glucose and wine. Conclusions Candida albicans isolated from potentially carcinogenic oral diseases can produce mutagenic amounts of acetaldehyde. Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption may favour adaptational changes resulting in the upregulation of candidal acetaldehyde metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Betel quid chewing and cigarette smoking are two of the risk factors for some dental diseases as well as oral cavity cancer in Taiwan. The aim of the study was to quantify these factors in oral cavity cancer patients and compare the prevalence of these factors in patients and the general population. Methods: A questionnaire was designed to evaluate betel quid chewing, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking in 254 patients, who had squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, and had received surgical excision at the Changhua Christian Hospital in Taiwan between 2005 and 2008. The results were compared with those of population of Taiwan, based on a nation-wide survey with sample of 26 744 people. Results: We found that more than 80% of the male patients were both betel quid chewers and smokers. Few women in the survey practiced betel quid chewing, cigarette smoking or alcohol drinking. Chewers and smokers usually started the habits in their 20s. On average, a chewer patient consumed 12 508 betel quid pieces per year, for 23.3 years before the diagnosis of oral cavity cancer, making the total amount of betel quid consumed nearly 310 000 pieces; and a smoker patient consumed 469 packs per year, for 28.5 years before diagnosis, making the total number of about 14 000 packs. Patients with both habits had the age at diagnosis 4 years earlier than the smoker-only patients, 5 years earlier than the chewer-only patients, and 6 years earlier than those with neither. Conclusions: On average, it took two decades of betel quid chewing and cigarette smoking before oral cavity cancer diagnosis, making the life-time consumption of these substances an astonishing amount. Betel quid chewing and cigarette smoking patients are more likely to be diagnosed with oral cavity cancer at a younger age than those who have just one habit or none. Patients that smoke more are not only more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age, but also at an advanced stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]