Clinical significance of preoperative serum C-reactive protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an index of systemic inflammation. However, CRP is not usually assessed preoperatively. Hence the study intended to evaluate the preoperative serum CRP levels in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and to analyse its relationship with the clinicopathologic characteristics. CRP values for 60 OSCCs and 30 healthy controls were evaluated using a CRP assessment kit and spectrophotometer. The Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and logistic regression were applied. The CRP ranged from 0.3 to 86mg/L in OSCCs. CRP was significantly higher in OSCCs than in controls. A raised CRP was seen in 70% of OSCCs. CRP in OSCCs was associated with clinical nodal status and lymph node metastasis (LNM) (P<0.05). CRP was significantly higher in the metastatic than in the non-metastatic group. The area under the ROC was 0.819. The best cut-off value for predicting LNM was 8.65mg/L for the CRP with 0.767 sensitivity and 0.767 specificity (P<0.05). The cut-off revealed a significant association with LNM. Raised CRP may predict LNM. The CRP levels regressed significantly in relation to LNM. CRP could offer prognostic information beyond staging and histology. Hence, CRP can be added as an extension to known clinicopathologic parameters to predict the prognosis in OSCCs.

Serum lipid profile in oral squamous cell carcinoma: alterations and association with some clinicopathological parameters and tobacco use.

Hypocholesterolemia has been observed in patients with cancers of various organs; however the potential role of alterations in serum lipid profile in oral cancer remains controversial. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the serum lipid profile in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its prognostic significance. Ninety untreated OSCC patients, who reported to the craniofacial unit for treatment between 2011 and 2014, were identified to obtain clinicopathological data and preoperative blood investigations including lipid profile. The fasting blood lipid profile, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL), was evaluated using a fully automated biochemistry analyser. Data were analyzed statistically using the Student's t-test, analysis of variance, and post hoc tests. Statistically significant decreases in serum TC, HDL, and LDL levels were observed in OSCC patients as compared to healthy controls (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in mean lipid profile values in terms of stage, grade, or lymph node metastasis. This study identified changes in lipid profiles in OSCC. The results suggest that during the development and progression of OSCC, levels of serum lipids are decreased. A review of the literature confirmed that OSCC patients exhibit aberrant serum lipid patterns.

Oxidant-antioxidant status in blood and tumor tissue of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Increased oxidative and nitrosative stress associated with disturbances in antioxidant defense system have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases, most notably oral cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidant-antioxidant status in blood samples and tumor tissue in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients in comparison with the healthy controls. METHODS: Blood and tumor tissue samples from the diseased individuals and the normal controls were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) as indicators of oxidative stress and nitrosative stress respectively; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase enzymes as indicators of antioxidant defense by UV visible spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Malondialdehyde and NO levels were significantly elevated in the blood and tissue samples of OSCC patients as compared with the healthy controls. The antioxidant enzymes SOD and catalase were significantly reduced in tissue samples of OSCC group than in the control group while in the erythrocytes, catalase levels were significantly reduced and the SOD levels were higher in OSCC group in comparison with the healthy controls. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: Increased levels of MDA and NO indicate an increase in the oxidative stress in OSCC patients associated with a deficient antioxidant defense mechanism. This oxidant-antioxidant imbalance may be considered as one of the factors responsible for pathogenesis of cancer. Future studies regarding assessment of oxidant-antioxidant status in OSCC patients in view of selecting appropriate mode of therapy and the effectiveness of such therapy in limiting the tumor progression and recurrence is to be carried out.

Congenital osteolipoma associated with cleft palate: a case report.

Congenital tumors of the oral cavity are uncommon. Teratoid tumors account for most of the reported cases and are infrequently associated with a cleft of the soft palate. Of the remaining tumors associated with pediatric cleft palate, congenital lipoma is rare. Lipomas of the oral cavity may show cartilaginous or osseous changes. These changes have not been reported in lipoma associated with cleft palate. A rare case of congenital osteolipoma associated with cleft palate and showing osseous change is presented here. The pathogenesis of the lesion and the osseous metaplasia are described. The present case is the second case of congenital lipoma associated with cleft palate in the literature.