Evaluation of CD44s, CD44v6, CXCR2, CXCL1, and IL-1β in Benign and Malignant Tumors of Salivary Glands

BACKGROUND

Several studies have reported an association between high expression of CD44 in different types of cancer. However, no study has reported a link among CD44 expression, other biomarkers, and the aggressiveness of salivary gland tumors.

METHODS

A total of 38 specimens were obtained from non-tumorous salivary glands, benign and malignant tumors in salivary glands. Immunohistochemical analyses of CD44s, CD44v6, IL-1β, CXCL1, and CXCR2 were performed, and the area of positive cells was assessed.

RESULTS

We found that both CD44s and CXCR2 expression were increased in the benign and malignant groups. CD44v6 was also increased in both groups, but it had the highest level in the malignant group. IL-1β was the only biomarker that increased significantly in the malignant group in comparison to the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

CD44s, CD44v6, CXCR2, and IL-1β expressions were found to be higher in salivary gland tumors. However, IL-1β alone may play a crucial role in the aggressiveness of salivary gland tumors as this cytokine was expressed only in the malignant group with high expression associated with high-grade malignancy.

Association between hepatitis C infection in Thai patients with oral lichen planus: A case-control study

AIM

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and evaluate liver enzyme levels in patients from upper northern Thailand with oral lichen planus (OLP).

METHODS

A case-control study of 101 patients with OLP and 101 patients without OLP was conducted. Peripheral blood was taken from each patient and screened for anti-HCV antibody using immunochromatography. Positive samples were further confirmed using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, liver enzyme levels, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase were evaluated using spectrophotometry.

RESULTS

Immunochromatography and CMIA revealed that nine patients with OLP (8.9%) were positive for anti-HCV antibodies, whereas only one patient without OLP was HCV positive (odds ratio = 9.78). All patients who were HCV positive had significantly higher liver enzyme levels than patients who were HCV negative.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study indicated that OLP in certain patients was significantly associated with HCV. This could warrant screening for HCV-infected patients with OLP in Thailand.

Oral cancer: A multicenter study

Background

To determine the prevalence and clinicopathologic features of the oral cancer patients.

Material and Methods

Biopsy records of the participating institutions were reviewed for oral cancer cases diagnosed from 2005 to 2014. Demographic data and site of the lesions were collected. Sites of the lesion were subdivided into lip, tongue, floor of the mouth, gingiva, alveolar mucosa, palate, buccal/labial mucosa, maxilla and mandible. Oral cancer was subdivided into 7 categories: epithelial tumors, salivary gland tumors, hematologic tumors, bone tumors, mesenchymal tumors, odontogenic tumors, and others. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS software version 17.0.

Results

Of the 474,851 accessioned cases, 6,151 cases (1.30%) were diagnosed in the category of oral cancer. The mean age of the patients was 58.37±15.77 years. A total of 4,238 cases (68.90%) were diagnosed in males, whereas 1911 cases (31.07%) were diagnosed in females. The male-to-female ratio was 2.22:1. The sites of predilection for oral cancer were tongue, labial/buccal mucosa, gingiva, palate, and alveolar mucosa, respectively. The three most common oral cancer in the descending order of frequency were squamous cell carcinoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Conclusions

Although the prevalence of oral cancer is not high compared to other entities, oral cancer pose significant mortality and morbidity in the patients, especially when discovered late in the course of the disease. This study highlights some anatomical locations where oral cancers are frequently encountered. As a result, clinicians should pay attention to not only teeth, but oral mucosa especially in the high prevalence area as well since early detection of precancerous lesions or cancers in the early stage increase the chance of patient being cured and greatly reduce the mortality and morbidity. This study also shows some differences between pediatric and elderly oral cancer patients as well as between Asian and non-Asian oral cancer patients.

Key words:Oral cancer, prevalence, clinic-pathologic features, retrospective study.

A comparative study of epithelial cell proliferation between the odontogenic keratocyst, orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst, dentigerous cyst, and ameloblastoma

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to compare the proliferation index of the epithelial cells between odontogenic keratocysts (OKC), orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts (OOC), dentigerous cysts (DC), and ameloblastomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The proliferation index, employing a novel cell proliferation marker IPO-38, was studied by the immunohistochemical technique in 10 OKC, seven OOC, eight DC and 10 ameloblastomas.

RESULTS

The ameloblastoma had no higher labeling index (LI) of IPO-38 than the OKC (P = 0.910) but had higher LI than the OOC (P = 0.001) and DC (P = 0.000); the OKC had higher LI than the OOC (P = 0.002) and DC (P = 0.000); and the OOC had higher LI than the DC (P = 0.011). IPO-38-positive cells in the OKC and OOC were located principally in the suprabasal cell layers while the ameloblastoma were found in the peripheral portion in particularly, the follicular and plexiform types.

CONCLUSION

These findings support previous studies that the proliferation indices are useful in predicting the different biological behavior of the odontogenic lesions and the OKC should be regarded as a benign tumor rather than simply an odontogenic cyst.

Odontogenic lesions in opercula of permanent molars delayed in eruption

Opercula of permanent first and second molars delayed in eruption were investigated histologically to detect possible causes of eruption failure. The material comprised operation specimens from exposure of 74 non-erupted molars in 63 young individuals (34 boys, 29 girls). Eighteen of the 74 specimens (or 24.3%) were diagnosed as "classical" odontogenic tumors belonging to the following entities: ameloblastic fibroma (seven), ameloblastic fibrodentinoma (six), ameloblastic fibro-odontoma (four) and complex odontoma (one). Twenty-two specimens (or 29.7%) showed a hitherto unrecognized odontogenic lesion of hamartomatous character, termed odontogenic giant cell fibromatosis (OGCF). Thus, 54.1% of the specimens could be diagnosed as odontogenic tumors or hamartomas. Histomorphologic changes could not be detected in the remaining 34 specimens (45.9%). Odontogenic tumors were associated with unerupted first molars much more frequently than with second molars (ratio 8:1). The OGCF had a strong association with unerupted mandibular molars. Further, opercula of mandibular first molars frequently revealed odontogenic lesions whereas tissue overlying the crown of unerupted maxillary second molars often was reported as normal operculum.