In search of malignant transformation: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND

The role of oxygen free radicals in the initiation, promotion and progression of carcinogenesis and the protective role of antioxidant defenses has been the subject of much speculation in the recent past, with conflicting reports in the literature.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to measure the concentration of serum total proteins and albumin and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in the sera of patients diagnosed with speckled leukoplakia and well-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODS

The study consisted of sera analysis of 30 new cases of histologically proven well-differentiated, oral squamous cell carcinoma and 10 patients with speckled leukoplakia aged between 40 and 60 years in addition to 25 healthy controls.

METHODS

One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the difference between groups. To find out which of the two groups' mean was significantly different, post hoc test of Scheffe was used.

RESULTS

The study revealed variations in sera levels of albumin and advanced oxidation protein products to be statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The results obtained emphasize the need for more studies with larger sample sizes to be conducted before a conclusive role for sera levels of total protein, albumin and AOPP could be drawn as markers of transition of the various oral precancerous lesions and conditions to frank oral squamous cell carcinoma.