Impact of tobacco smoking on oral cancer genetics-A next-generation sequencing perspective

Salivary cysteine levels as a potential biochemical indicator of oral cancer risk in tobacco consumers

Aim: Oral cancer is the leading cause of mortality, with a survival rate of less than 5 years, and is predominantly influenced by tobacco mutagens. Invasive diagnostic methods hinder early detection of oral cancer biomarkers. The present study performed salivary biochemical analysis for early oral cancer screening in tobacco consumers.Materials & methods: Three study groups included healthy controls (n = 25), tobacco users (n = 25) and oral cancer patients (n = 25). Salivary total protein, amylase, TNF-α and amino acid levels were evaluated using enzymatic tests, Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).Results: Compared with healthy controls, salivary total protein and TNF-α levels were significantly (p = 0.04) higher in oral cancer patients. Salivary amylase levels were significantly lower in tobacco smokers (p = 0.02) and higher in oral cancer patients (p = 0.01). Interestingly, the amino acid cysteine concentration was significantly higher (p = 0.02) in tobacco consumers (62.5 ± 10) than in healthy controls (116.1 ± 28).Conclusion: In high-risk populations, such as tobacco users, salivary biochemical analysis can serve as a promising noninvasive diagnostic method for early oral cancer screening. As a salivary biomarker, the amino acid cysteine exhibits potential as a means of detecting the progression of oral cancer in individuals who consume tobacco.

Waterpipe smoke condensate induces epithelial-mesenchymal transformation and promotes metastasis of oral cancer by FOXD1 expression

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Smoking is a major contributor to global oral cancer cases, necessitating urgent intervention. FOXD1, involved in developmental processes and various cancers, shows promise as a prognostic marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study investigates the impact of waterpipe smoke condensate (WPSC) on OSCC, focusing on FOXD1 role in inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis.

METHODS

The study involved using OSCC cells treated with WPSC to evaluate their proliferation, colony formation, gene expression, and protein levels. The researchers also explored the clinical relevance of their findings using online databases to analyze FOXD1 expression in cancer tissues and its correlation with clinicopathological features and patient survival. Additionally, in silico tools were employed for functional analysis, pathway enrichment, and network exploration.

RESULTS

The study found that WPSC increased the expression of FOXD1 in OSCC cells, which led to increased cell growth. The study also showed that FOXD1 plays a critical role in the EMT process induced by WPSC, as evidenced by changes in the expression of EMT-related genes and proteins. Clinical analysis revealed that FOXD1 was significantly associated with more aggressive tumor features and poorer prognosis in cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights FOXD1 as a key player in OSCC pathogenesis and a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target, particularly when influenced by WPSC exposure. Further research is needed to explore FOXD1 molecular mechanisms and clinical implications to enhance OSCC treatment strategies.