D. Antoniades

Malignant potential of oral lichen planus: A follow-up study of 326 patients

326 patients with oral lichen planus were followed for periods ranging from 6 months to 10 years (mean 4.8 years), in an attempt to clarify the malignant potential of this disease which is still controversial. Malignant transformation occurred in 4 patients (1.3%) in a mean time of 6.5 years after the onset of lichen planus. Before cancer development, 3 of these patients manifested the erosive form of oral lichen planus, while the others, a combination of the papular/atrophic form. Malignant transformation in our patients could not be associated with any evident factors, such as family history, local irritation, alcohol consumption, nutritional disturbances or other systemic diseases.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lips in a northern Greek population. Evaluation of prognostic factors on 5-year survival rate—I

The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical features of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lips, along with its prognostic factors, in order to extend and update the information related to lip cancer in northern Greece and to provide a basis for international comparison. Records of 1510 patients with SCC of the oral cavity presented at the Theagenion Anticancer Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece from 1979 and 1989 were reviewed. The most common site for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was found to be the lips (59.4%) as compared to 40.5% of intra-oral SCC. Males were affected more frequently, presenting a ratio of 9.2:1. The peak age of incidence was found to be the 6th decade for men and the 8th for women. Rural residents and outdoor workers were affected more than urban residents (79.9% versus 28.1%). Most of the patients were diagnosed in early categories and early clinical stages of the disease. Almost all (98.5%) were classified into T1 and T2 categories, and 92.9% into stages I and II. A total of 7.59% of patients presented with clinically-positive lymph-node involvement. Most of them were classified as an advanced stage of the disease. Primary surgical excision was performed on 60.14%, radiotherapy on 35.14%, a combination of these on 2.47%, and chemotherapy alone or in combination with the above regimens in 2.22% of the cases. The outcome was adequate for surgery, radiotherapy, and the combination of the two, since 91.3, 74, and 90%, respectively, survived for more than 5 years. An overall 5-year survival rate of 83.3% was found. Our findings showed that the survival rate was significantly influenced by the main prognostic factors, such as the size of the tumour, the lymph-node involvement, the clinical stage of the disease and the histologic differentiation. SCC of the lips continues to be the most common site of oral cancer development amongst the Greek population. The aetiologic significance of actinic radiation for SCC of the lips is confirmed by our findings. The main prognostic factors proved to significantly influence the survival of our patients. Our results support the fundamental principal of head and neck cancer, i.e. that early detection of the primary tumour is the best prognostic factor for increasing survival rates. Therefore, public awareness concerning the disease, and better education for health care workers which will provide a thorough knowledge for the prognosis of oral cancer and the factors influencing it, is necessary.

Immunologic status in patients infected with HIV with oral candidiasis and hairy leukoplakia

Although numerous studies of oral manifestations associated with HIV have been reported, only a few refer to the correlation of these lesions with laboratory parameters. In this study we investigated the relationships between the two most common HIV-associated oral lesions, oral candidiasis and hairy leukoplakia, with the stage of the disease, circulating CD4+ cell counts, and the presence of anti-p24 antibodies in serum and stimulated whole saliva in 43 known HIV-1-infected persons. Although oral candidiasis and hairy leukoplakia were exclusively observed in subjects who were classified as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention group IV, only the prevalence of oral candidiasis is strongly associated with circulating CD4+ counts less than 200/mm3 (p < 0.02). The prevalence of oral candidiasis and hairy leukoplakia was significantly related to the absence of anti-p24 antibodies in serum (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively), but was only statistically significant for hairy leukoplakia in stimulated whole saliva (p < 0.02). The results suggest that oral candidiasis and hairy leukoplakia in correlation with immunologic status as indicated by low circulating CD4+ cell counts and the absence of anti-p24 antibodies in serum and the loss of secretory anti-p24 antibodies in subjects with hairy leukoplakia, may constitute prognostic markers for the progression of HIV-infection to AIDS. Our results also indicate that the absence of anti-p24 antibodies is not only influenced by the low levels of circulating CD4+ cells but probably by the presence of oral candidiasis or hairy leukoplakia as well.

Median rhomboid glossitis: An oral manifestation in patients infected with HIV

A follow-up study included the oral examination of 39 persons known to be infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. In addition to the other human immunodeficiency virus-associated oral lesions, lesions clinically similar to the smooth form of median rhomboid glossitis, which is now believed to be erythematous candidiasis located in the dorsum of the tongue, were found in seven patients (18%). Patients with median rhomboid glossitis were classified in different stages of the Centers for Disease Control 1986 classification system and showed an average of CD+4 cell counts 397.5/mm3. Also the presence or the absence of anti-p24 antibodies in the serum and stimulated whole saliva of the patients with median rhomboid glossitis did not correlate with the stage of the disease or with low levels of CD+4 cell counts as in other forms of oral candidiasis. Therefore our results suggest that median rhomboid glossitis should be included as a distinct form of oral candidiasis in the classification of the oral manifestations of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Bilateral aplasia of parotid glands correlated with accessory parotid tissue.

Congenital absence of major salivary glands, especially the parotid gland, is a rare entity. It is usually monolateral and is not correlated with accessory salivary gland tissue. Aplasia of parotid gland may occur alone or in association with abnormalities of other salivary glands, first branchial arch developmental disturbances or other congenital anomalies.We report an interesting case of bilateral aplasia of the parotid glands together with bilateral accessory parotid tissue, without other congenital or developmental anomalies, and we describe the clinical and radiological findings.

VEGF expression from human dysplastic or malignant oral epithelium may be related to mast cell density and the subsequent angiogenetic phenomena

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic cytokine and mast cells play a role in neoangiogenesis in various malignancies. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of VEGF and mast cells in the early stages of tumorigenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Immunohistochemistry was conducted to study VEGF expression and microvessel density (MVD) in 49 tissue samples, 31 OSCCs, 13 leukoplakias (8 with and 5 without dysplasia) and 5 samples from normal oral tissue. Counterstaining with tolouidine blue was conducted to reveal mast cells. The number of microvessels and mast cells were counted at the same optical field. A gradually increased VEGF expression was observed from normal oral epithelium to leukoplakia and OSCC. MVD was found to increase significantly between normal oral tissue and OSCC (p=0.000). The number of mast cells was found to increase significantly between normal oral tissue, dysplasia (p=0.012) and OSCC (p=0.000). In the early stages of tumorigenesis in OSCC, VEGF, which is secreted by the epithelium, is gradually increased immediately affecting the population of mast cells, which are then related to the increase of microvessels.

Detection and typing of human papillomaviruses (HPV) in malignant, dysplastic, nondysplastic and normal oral epithelium by nested polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and transitional electron microscopy in patients of northern Greece.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the role of HPV in oral carcinogenesis, we examined the prevalence of HPV in malignant, potentially malignant and normal oral epithelium and studied the relation of HPV prevalence with other factors obtained from the patients records. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our material consisted of 291 tissue specimens from 258 individuals. From every individual formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissues were examined by nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (NPCR) for the detection of HPV DNA and by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the in situ detection of HPV L1 protein. Positive PCR products were sequenced in order to type HPVs. Also 33 fresh tissues were obtained, fixed and used to detect HPV particles by transitional electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS HPV was detected in 32.9% of the tissue specimens by NPCR, in 4.7% by immunohistochemistry and in 28.1% by TEM. In detail, by nested PCR HPV L1 DNA was detected in 40% of normal tissues, 40% of fibromas, 35.8% of non-dysplastic leukoplakias, 31.6% of dysplastic leukoplakias and 22.2% of oral squamous cell carcinomas. The HPV viral load of 96.5% of the samples was very low (1 viral copy per 10(2)-10(4) cells). HPV16 prevails in all histological groups in 89-100%. CONCLUSION We conclude that HPV does not seem, from the specific sample examined, to play a substantial role in oral carcinogenesis. However, it cannot be excluded that HPV could be involved in oral carcinogenesis only in cases with high viral load or at early stages of carcinogenesis possibly through the hit-and-run mechanism.

Coexistence of Mucous Retention Cyst and Basal Cell Adenoma Arising from the Lining Epithelium of the Cyst

Objective: To report 2 cases of coexisting mucous retention cyst and basal cell adenoma arising from the lining epithelium of the cyst. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: Two cases of painless swellings, well-demarcated, soft to palpation, and located in the submucosa of the upper lip were clinically examined with the provisional diagnosis of mucocele or salivary gland tumor. Histological examination showed the presence of a large unilocular cystic cavity in many parts surrounded by single or bilayered lining epithelium composed of flattened to cuboidal cells, and in other parts surrounded by projections of cells arranged in a trabecular pattern far into the cystic cavity. The trabeculae were composed of basal and low columnar cells that sometimes formed small duct-like structures. Immunohistochemistry showed that the lining epithelium of the cystic cavity and the cells of the projections expressed cytokeratin 7 and high-molecular-weight cytokeratins. The cells of the projections were weakly positive for S-100 protein and negative for vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin. Based on the results, a diagnosis of coexisting mucous retention cysts and basal cell adenomas arising from the lining epithelium of cysts was made. Conclusion: The coexistence of mucous retention cysts and basal cell adenomas arising from the lining epithelium of the cyst is reported.

Salivary mRNA markers having the potential to detect oral squamous cell carcinoma segregated from oral leukoplakia with dysplasia

BACKGROUND In the current study the presence of extracellular IL-1B, IL-8, OAZ and SAT mRNAs in the saliva was evaluated as a tool in the early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS 34 patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma stage T1N0M0/T2N0M0, 20 patients with oral leukoplakia and dysplasia (15 patients with mild dysplasia and 5 with severe dysplasia/in situ carcinoma) and 31 matched healthy-control subjects were included in the study. The presence of IL-1B, IL-8, OAZ and SAT mRNA was evaluated in extracellular RNA isolated from saliva samples using sequence-specific primers and real-time RT-PCR. ROC curve analysis was used to estimate the ability of the biomarkers to detect oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. RESULTS The data reveal that the combination of these four biomarkers provides a good predictive probability of up to 80% (AUC=0.799, p=0.002) for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma but not patients suffering from oral leukoplakia with dysplasia. Moreover, the combination of only the two biomarkers (SAT and IL-8) also raises a high predictive ability of 75.5% (AUC=0.755, p=0.007) approximately equal to the four biomarkers suggesting the use of the two biomarkers only in the prediction model for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients limiting the economic and health cost in half. CONCLUSION SAT and IL-8 mRNAs are present in the saliva in high quality and quantity, with a good discriminatory ability for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients only but not for patients with oral leukoplakia and dysplasia an oral potentially malignant disorder.

HLA alleles and fissured tongue.

The aim of this study was to investigate the linkage between HLA and fissured tongue. Sixty‐ nine individuals with fissured tongue and 125 healthy volunteers were typed for HLA‐DRB1*. The results showed increased frequency of HLA‐DRB1*08 (P < 0.001), HLA‐DRB1*14 (P < 0.01), HLA‐DRB1*11 (P < 0.05) and HLA‐DRB1*16 (P < 0.05), while HLA‐DRB1*03 and HLA‐DRB1*07 frequency was decreased (P < 0.05).