• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4409-4412
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• 2012

Present study was undertaken to estimate and compare erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (E-SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in oral submucous fibrosis, oral leukoplakia and oral cancer patients and age/sex matched healthy subjects, 25 in each group. Statistically significant (P<0.001) decrease in E-SOD and GPx levels were observed in OSF, oral leukoplakia and oral cancer groups as compared to the control group. Oral leukoplakia group showed lower levels in comparison with OSF (P>0.05). Oral cancer group had the lowest levels amongst the study groups. Imbalance in antioxidant enzyme status may be considered as one of the factors responsible for the pathogenesis of cancer and may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target to reduce the malignant transformation in oral premalignant lesions/conditions.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2019

A 50-year-old Korean female with oral erythro-leukoplakia was treated using a 532-nm Diode laser at 6 Watts with a pulsed width of 25 milliseconds. After two months following the laser treatment, the resected region was well-healed without any significant scar contracture. We suggest that the use of the 532-nm Diode laser can be a safe and effective treatment modality for patients suffering from oral leukoplakia.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7497-7500
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• 2015

Background: Tumor markers, designated as a broad group of substances produced by malignancies, could be in the form of biochemical substances, immunological substances, cell surface changes and genetic alterations. Cancer, a disorder of cellular behavior is characterized by alteration of serum glycoproteins. L-fucose, a hexose, which is the terminal sugar in most of the plasma glycoproteins, may be useful as a tumor marker for the detection, monitoring and prognostic assessment of malignancies. The aim of the study was to ascertain the role of serum fucose as a biomarker for early detection of oral cancer and to compare serum fucose levels in healthy controls, leukoplakia and oral cancer patients. Materials and Methods: The study included 60 (100.0%) subjects, who were grouped as 20 (33.3%) control subjects, 20 (33.3%) squamous cell carcinoma patients and 20 (33.3%) leukoplakia patients. Fucose estimation was done using UV-visible spectrophotometry based on the method as adopted by Winzler using cysteine reagent. The results were analyzed statistically using ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests. Results: Results showed a high significance in serum fucose in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and leukoplakia subjects compared to normal controls. There was a gradual increase in the values noted from control to leukoplakia and to squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions: Estimation of serum fucose may be a reliable marker and can be used as an effective diagnostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.29-34
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• 2018

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of i-scan in the differential diagnosis of oral cavity leukoplakia based on visualization of abnormal vascular features. Materials & Methods: Thirty- one patients with oral cavity leukoplakia were enrolled in the study. Images of their oral cavity obtained using conventional white light endoscopy and an i-scan-enhanced endoscopy (Pentax DEFINA EPK-3000 Video Processors, with Pentax VNLJ10) were reviewed. The microvascular features of the lesions and vascular changes were analyzed and the results were compared with the histopathologic diagnosis. Results: Among the 31 oral cavity leukoplakia patients, 8 (25.8%) patients revealed hyperkeratosis, 10 (31.2%) low-grade dysplasia, 5 (16.2%) high-grade dysplasia and 8 (25.8%) invasive squamous cell carcinoma on histopathologic examination. Using i-scan-enhanced endoscopy, we could found abnormal vascular change with neoplastic neoangiogenesis in most high-grade dysplasia or invasive cancer in oral cavity. (high-grade dysplasia: 4/5 [80.0%], and invasive squamous cell carcinoma: 7/8 [87.5%]). Conclusion: i-scan-enhanced endoscopy could be a useful optical technique for the diagnosis of oral cavity leukoplakia. Our results suggest that i-scan may be a promising diagnostic tool in the early detection of suspected oral mucosal lesion.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.3001-3006
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• 2016

Background: The cancer progression of oral leukoplakia is an important watchpoint in the follow-up observation of the patients. However, potential malignancies of oral leukoplakia cannot be estimated by histopathologic assessment alone. We evaluated genetic abnormalities at the level of copy number variation (CNV) to investigate the risk for developing cancer in oral leukoplakias. Materials and Methods: The current study used 27 oral leukoplakias with histological evidence of dysplasia. The first group (progressing dysplasia) consisted of 7 oral lesions from patients with later progression to cancer at the same site. The other group (non-progressing dysplasia) consisted of 20 lesions from patients with no occurrence of oral cancer and longitudinal follow up (>7 years). We extracted DNA from Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) samples and examined chromosomal loci and frequencies of CNVs using Taqman copy number assays. Results: CNV frequently occurred at 3p, 9p, and 13q loci in progressing dysplasia. Our results also indicate that CNV at multiple loci-in contrast to single locus occurrences-is characteristic of progressing dysplasia. Conclusions: This study suggests that genetic abnormalities of the true precancer demonstrate the progression risk which cannot be delineated by current histopathologic diagnosis.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.465-472
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• 2008

We experienced a rare case of oral squamous cell carcinoma arisen from gingival tissues overlying prolonged chronic osteomyelitis of the mandible. A 66 years old man complained of unhealed extraction sockets of left mandibular second premolar and first molar, and showed extensive leukoplakia in the gingival tissues of the same area. The inflammation of the socket granuloma became severe and extended into adjacent mandibular proper, resulted in diffuse suppurative chronic osteomyelitis of mandibular body, exhibiting irregular osteolytic changes of mandibular trabecular patterns in mottled radiolucent appearance. The leukoplakia was initially diagnosed under microscope, and the involved gingival tissues were radically removed. Thereafter, the gingival soft tissue inflammation involving the mandibular osteomyelitis was hardly healed for two years. During the period of repeated surgical treatments for the inflamed lesion, nine biopsies were taken sequentially. Until the eighth biopsy, there consistently showed the suppurative osteomyelitis with ingrowing gingival tissues into the bony inflammatory lesion. The gingival epithelium showed the features of leukoplakia but no evidence of malignant changes. However, the ninth biopsy, taken about 2 years after initial diagnosis, showed the early carcinomatous changes of the gingival epithelium. The neoplastic epithelial cells were relatively well differentiated with many keratin pearls, and infiltrated only into underlying connective tissues. So, we presumed that the present case of squamous cell carcinoma was caused by the persistent inflammatory condition of the mandibular osteomyelitis, and also suggest that the leukoplakia should be carefully removed in the beginning to prevent the neoplatic promotion of the chronic inflammation.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.352-359
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• 2006

MMP-2 and MMP-9, type IV collagenases which degrade basement membrane, have been known to play important roles in invasion and metastasis of tumor cells, In addition, they seem to be involved in cell differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and immunity, etc. We immunohistochemically examined epithelial and stromal expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in irritation fibroma, oral leukoplakia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and have some results as follows: 1. Irritation fibromas, oral leukoplakias and OSCCs mostly showed increased expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the epithelium and connective tissue compared with normal mucosa. 2. There was a significant difference in the epithelial expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 between irritation fibroma and oral leukoplakia. 3. There was a significant difference in the epithelial and stromal expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 between irritation fibroma and OSCC. 4. There was a significant difference in the stromal expression of MMP-9 between oral leukoplakia and OSCC. We concluded that rritation fibroma, oral leukoplakia and OSCC have somewhat different characteristics of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions, which perhaps result from different pathogenesis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2022

Vocal fold leukoplakia poses a challenge to otolaryngologists due to its various spectrum of pathologic diagnosis. The degree of dysplasia is associated with malignancy risk and the new 2017 WHO classification system changed from the 3-tier system to a 2-tier system consisting of low and high grades. Infections including candidiasis, cryptococcosis, and tuberculosis should also be included in the differential diagnosis. Efforts have been made to evaluate risks using endoscopic technologies such as narrow band imaging, and surgery is essential for histopathological diagnosis. Regarding management, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis and find a balance between oncologic safety and functional outcome.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Background and Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3 are involved in tumor lymphangiogenesis. Oral mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (OMSCC) preferentially metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes, so we investigated the expression and distribution of VEGFR-3 signaling proteins in OMSCC. Materials and Methods: Tissue samples of 18 OMSCC, 10 oral mucosal leukoplakia, and 3 normal oral mucosa were evaluated for expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and VEGFR-3 by immunohistochemical staining. The presence of lymphatic vessels was determined using D2-40 staining, by which we also measured lymphatic vessel density (LVD). Results: 72% (13/18) and 56% (10/18) of tissue samples showed VEGF-C and VEGF-D immunopositivity in tumor cells and tumor-associated endothelial cells. VEGFR-3 was also expressed in most of OMSCC, which was up-regulated when compared with normal mucosa or with leukoplakia. Furthermore, LVD was higher in OMSCC than in leukoplakia. Conclusion: Taken together, our results suggest that autocrine activation of lymphatic endothelial cell via VEGFR-3 by VEGF-C and/or VEGF-D could be involved in progression of OMSCC. Therefore, VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling pathway can be a molecular target for anti-metastatic therapy in OMSCC.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 1983

The authors observed the ultrastructure of oral leukoplakia simplex of gingiva, buccal mucosa, tongue and alveolar ridge. For the purpose of clearly defining the lesions under investigation in this study, leukoplakias were cinsidered to be any white patches on the oral mucous membranes that could not be removed by rubbing and could not be classified clinically or microscopically as another diagnosable disease. The tissue to be examined were embedded in paraffin for light microscopic study. The tissue to be examined under the electronomicroscope were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M cacodylate buffer and 1% osmic acid in 0.1M cacodylate buffer, dehydrated with guaded alchol, and treated with propylene oxide, and embedded in Epon.Ultrathin sections were obtained by LKB III ultrotome, stained with uranyl acetate/lead citrate, and examined with Corinth 500EM. The results were as follows : 1. Epithelium of leukoplakia consisted of stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum and stratum corneum. 2. There was hyperorthokerotosis or hyperparakeratosis. 3. Granular cells contained a lot number of membrane coating granule showing lamellar structure, clearing ot codensation, and a lot of keratohyaline granule varied in size. 4. An increased concentration of tonofilaments and an increased number of desmosomes were found in the stratum spinosum. 5. Basal lamina generally showed its continuity, but in some locatoins, its interreption and multiplication appeared.