Alteration of integrin expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the intensity of expression of beta 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 5, alpha 6 integrin subunits in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) as opposed to normal oral epithelium, and the intensity of expression and distribution pattern of the above subunits in relation to tumour differentiation grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cryostat sections of 25 cases of oral SCC and 15 cases of normal oral epithelium were studied by immunohistochemistry (APAAP method). RESULTS: The intensity of expression of beta 1, alpha 2 (Pearson chi 2 P < 0.001) and alpha 6 (Test for Trend P < 0.05) integrin subunits was reduced significantly in SCC compared to normal oral epithelium. All integrin subunits were mainly expressed in the peripheral cell layer of tumour islands. No correlation was found between the intensity of integrin expression and the degree of differentiation in SCC. The same applied to the distribution pattern of the integrin subunits. By means of cross examination of all integrins, the loss of intensity of alpha 2 beta 1 integrin expression was found to have the strongest correlation with oral SCC (Ordered Logistic Regression). CONCLUSIONS: Reduced intensity of expression of all subunits was found in oral SCC compared to normal epithelium. Further investigation is needed to determine whether alpha 2 beta 1 integrin expression can be used as a prognostic evaluator for the behaviour of the disease.

Characteristics of the oral lesions in patients with cutaneous recurrent erythema multiforme.

Erythema multiforme may be recurrent and the oral cavity is often affected. A series of 82 patients with unequivocal recurrent cutaneous erythema multiforme were examined to determine the incidence and nature of oral lesions. Seventy per cent of patients had oral lesions, comprising multiple, large, shallow, extremely painful and debilitating ulcers, which affected the entire oral mucosa in over 20%. The buccal mucosa and tongue were the most frequently affected sites in the remainder and the lips were affected in 13% of patients. Lesions generally lasted for 1-3 weeks. In over 60% of cases these attacks followed an episode of herpes simplex virus infection during the preceding fortnight. Recurrent attacks showed a different site distribution from the initial attacks, with a greater proportion having genital as well as skin and oral mucosal involvement. Detailed case histories of five patients are presented to illustrate the role of azathioprine in treating oral lesions and to document a familial case of recurrent erythema multiforme, with severe mucosal involvement.

Serum zinc levels in patients with burning mouth syndrome.

The serum zinc levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 30 patients with burning mouth syndrome, (BMS) and in 30 control subjects with clinically healthy oral mucosa. The mean value of serum zinc levels in the patient group was found to be significantly lower (mean +/- SD = 12.13 +/- 1.40 mumol/L) than the mean value of serum zinc levels in the control group (mean +/- SD = 12.89 +/- 1.62 mumol/L; p less than 0.05). The number of subjects with serum zinc levels less than the minimum normal value (less than 11 mumol/L) was higher in the patients with BMS (30%) than in the control subjects (10%). These results suggest that in some patients low serum zinc levels may be associated with BMS. However, the number of patients with BMS was too small to allow definite conclusions.