Two populations of TSPO binding sites in oral cancer SCC-15 cells.

Oral cancer mortality and morbidity rates remain high. The main inducer of oral cancer is cigarette smoke (CS). Translocator protein 18kDa (TSPO) was shown to play a role in carcinogenesis.

Tumor Growth and Cell Proliferation Rate in Human Oral Cancer.

Background And Aims: Oral squamous cell cancer (SCC) has a high rate of morbidity and an overall 5-year survival rate for patients of 50%, statistics that have not changed in the last half century. A better understanding of the biological nature of this aggressive disease is mandatory. The two most studied human oral cancer cell lines-SCC-15 and SCC-25-share some biological characteristics but differ in others and may serve as a platform for further oral SCC analysis.

Carbonyl levels and survival rates in oral cancer cells exposed to cigarette smoke.

Background: Cigarette smoke (CS) is the main inducer of oral cancer, increasing prevalence 4-7 times.

Materials And Methods: We examined SCC-25 and SCC-15 suitability for studying CS effects on oral cancer cells, measuring carbonyl levels for free radical-mediated CS effect on survival and time/CS dependence.

Results: Protein oxidation increased significantly during CS exposure.

DNA fragmentation induced by cigarette smoke in oral cancer cells.

Background/aim: Cigarette smoke (CS) is the main inducer of oral cancer, increasing the prevalence by 4-7 times. We examined induction of apoptosis by CS exposure of SCC-25 and SCC-15 oral cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: After controlled exposure to CS of various durations and at different time points we measured DNA fragmentation to assay apoptotic levels.

Cigarette smoke-induced effects on the cell cycle in oral cancer cells: reduction of G2/M fraction.

Background: Cigarette smoke (CS) is the main inducer of oral cancer, increasing its prevalence by 4-7 times.

Materials And Methods: We examined the suitability of cell models SCC-25 and SCC-15 for studying effects of CS on oral cancer cells and whether CS significantly affects the cell cycle using fluorescence-activated cell sorting assays.

Results: There was significant change in the fraction of SCC-15 cells in pre-G1 state following CS exposure.

Cigarette Smoke Decreases Salivary 18 kDa Translocator Protein Binding Affinity – in Association with Oxidative Stress.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by cigarette smoke may contribute to lung and oral cancer. The 18 kDa Translocator protein (TSPO) has been reported to be affected by ROS as well as to participate in ROS generation at mitochondrial levels, and has been implicated in pro-apoptotic and anti-carcinogenic functions. The present study reports the presence of TSPO in the cellular fraction of human saliva.

Oral cancer, cigarette smoke and mitochondrial 18kDa translocator protein (TSPO) - In vitro, in vivo, salivary analysis.

Oral cancer features high rates of mortality and morbidity, and is in dire need for new approaches. In the present study we analyzed 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) expression in oral (tongue) cancer tumors by immunohistochemistry. We also assayed TSPO binding in human tongue cancer cell lines and in the cellular fraction of saliva from tongue cancer patients, heavy cigarette smokers, and non-smoking healthy people as controls.