Immunohistochemical detection of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine: A biomarker of oxidative DNA damage in oral submucous fibrosis.

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is one of the common potentially malignant disorders prevailing in India. The primary etiological factors include tobacco and arecanut, which contain numerous reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS attack guanine bases in DNA and form 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), which can be detected in patients who have diseases associated with oxidative stress.