Association of Interactions between Metabolic 'Caretaker' Genes, p53, MDM2, and Tobacco Use with the Risk of Oral Cancer: A Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction Approach.

Background: The present study investigated the association of interactions between gene polymorphisms in metabolic 'caretaker' genes (Phase I: CYP1A1, CYP2E1; Phase II: GSTM1, GSTT1), the cell cycle regulatory gene, p53, along with its negative controller, MDM-2, and the environment variable (tobacco). A nonparametric model, multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR), was applied to analyse these interactions.

Materials And Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 242 subjects.

Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with breast cancer risk.

Background: Recent literature suggests that vitamin D signaling has a protective effect against breast cancer risk. Thus, the aim of the present study was to find the association of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms with breast cancer risk.

Materials And Methods: Fok1, Bsm1, Apa1, and Taq1 polymorphisms were performed by polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method, and Poly A polymorphism was carried out using PCR-SSCP in 140 breast cancer patients and 155 controls.

Alterations in p53 Influence hTERT, VEGF and MMPs Expression in Oral Cancer Patients.

Background: Mutant p53 is the crucial molecule in the etiopathogenesis of oral cancer. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the impact of alterations of the p53 gene and its negative feedback regulator, MDM2, on the expression of hTERT, VEGF, and MMPs; the critical genes involved in oral cancer progression.

Material And Methods: p53 and MDM2 genotyping were done by PCR-RFLP.

Apoptosis stimulating protein of p53 (ASPP) 1 and ASPP2 m-RNA expression in oral cancer.

Objective: The present study was carried out to unfold the clinical significance of apoptosis stimulating protein of p53 (ASPP) 1 and ASPP2 expression in oral cancer (OC).

Methods: Tissue specimens (malignant and their corresponding adjacent normal) from 40 pathologically confirmed OC patients treated at the Institute were included in the study. ASPP1 and ASPP2 expression were examined using semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

Clinical significance of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D in breast cancer: An Indian scenario.

Recent evidences suggest a protective mechanism of vitamin D signaling against breast cancer by the autocrine/paracrine manner and may modestly reduce the risk of breast cancer. Despite lots of sunshine, vitamin D deficiency is widespread in India. Moreover, there are limited studies from Indian population regarding circulatory 25(OH) D and breast cancer risk.

Transcriptome profiling and pathway analysis in squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa.

Background: High recurrence and poor overall survival in buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma (BMSCC) are not well addressed due to lack of efficient prognostic biomarkers and targeted therapies. To uncover gene candidates for the same, transcriptome profiling has been examined in BMSCC, which is not explored yet.

Methods: We compared 9 BMSCC and 2 normal oral FFPE tissues using Agilent SurePrint G3 Human gene expression v3 microarray chips.

VEGFA isoforms play a vital role in oral cancer progression.

Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor growth and prognostication. A key angiogenesis stimulator is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The present investigation aimed to study contribution of VEGFA isoforms in oral cancer progression.

Salivary glyco-sialylation changes monitors oral carcinogenesis.

Alterations in cell membrane glycosylation play important role in oral carcinogenesis. The present study evaluated salivary sialylation changes i.e.

Prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus type 16 and 18 in oral and cervical cancers in population from Gujarat, West India.

Background: Oral and cervical cancers are major malignancies in men and women, respectively, in India. This study evaluated occurrence of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and 18 infections in oral and cervical cancers to estimate HPV-associated burden of these cancers in the population from Gujarat, West India.

Methods: A total of 97 malignant oral carcinoma tissues and 52 cervical carcinoma tissues were analyzed by type-specific PCR for the presence of HPV type 16 and 18 infections.

Association between p53 gene variants and oral cancer susceptibility in population from Gujarat, West India.

Background: p53 gene variants i.e. 16 bp duplication in intron 3, Arg72Pro in exon 4 and G>A in intron 6 have been reported to modulate susceptibility to various malignancies.

Evaluation of serum and salivary total sialic acid and α-l-fucosidase in patients with oral precancerous conditions and oral cancer.

Objectives: We compared serum and salivary total sialic acid/total protein (TSA/TP) ratios and α-l-fucosidase activity in patients with oral precancerous conditions (OPCs) and oral cancer to better understand the utility of saliva, in monitoring early changes occurring during oral cancer progression.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study of 100 oral cancer patients, 50 patients with OPC, and 100 controls was performed.

Results: Serum and salivary TSA/TP ratios and α-l-fucosidase activity were significantly higher in OPC and oral cancer patients compared to the controls.

A review on salivary genomics and proteomics biomarkers in oral cancer.

Oral cancer has emerged as an alarming public health problem with increasing incidence and mortality rates all over the world. Therefore, the implementation of newer screening and early detection approaches are of utmost importance which could reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. Sensitive and specific biomarkers for oral cancer are likely to be most effective for screening, diagnosis, staging and follow-up for this dreaded malignancy.

Recent candidate molecular markers: vitamin D signaling and apoptosis specific regulator of p53 (ASPP) in breast cancer.

Regardless of advances in treatment modalities with the invention of newer therapies, breast cancer remains a major health problem with respect to its diagnosis, treatment and management. This female malignancy with its tremendous heterogeneous nature is linked to high incidence and mortality rates, especially in developing region of the world. It is the malignancy composed of distinct biological subtypes with diverse clinical, pathological, molecular and genetic features as well as different therapeutic responsiveness and outcomes.

Glycoprotein electrophoretic patterns have potential to monitor changes associated with neoplastic transformation in oral cancer.

Alterations in glycoproteins, important cell surface constituents, have long been associated with various malignancies. The present investigation therefore explored the clinical significance of a glycoproteomics approach in patients with oral precancerous conditions (OPC) and patients with oral cancer. The study included 80 oral cancer patients, 50 patients with OPC, and 84 controls.

Matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors: correlation with invasion and metastasis in oral cancer.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in invasion and metastasis of various malignancies. The study evaluated a comprehensive profile of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), respectively in 50 controls and 75 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Blood samples from controls and patients as well as malignant and adjacent normal tissues from the patients were collected.

Combined evaluation of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors has better clinical utility in oral cancer.

Background: Oral cancer is a major health hazard worldwide with increasing incidence and mortality. Cervical lymph node metastasis is a major determinant of outcome in oral cancer. The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) system is critically involved in invasion and metastasis.

Utility of urinary biomarkers in oral cancer.

Objective: Oral cancer is the leading malignancy in India, with tobacco playing a major role in the etiology. The aim of the present study was to quantify nitrate+nitrite (NO2+NO3) in tobacco products as well as to study tobacco exposure related biomarkers in controls, patients with oral precancers (OPC) and oral cancer patients.

Materials & Methods: Healthy individuals (n=90) were grouped into without habit of tobacco (NHT, n=30) and healthy individuals with habit of tobacco (WHT, n=60).

Vitamin B(12) and Folate Status in Head and Neck Cancer.

Deficiency of vitamin B(12) and folate is associated with causation of certain precancerous conditions and cancer. The present study was carried out on 56 controls, 167 patients with oral precancerous conditions (OPC) and 214 head and neck cancer patients, to evaluate the plasma vitamin B(12) and folate levels to determine their association with tobacco habits and vegetarianism and several sociodemographic factors. The subjects were interviewed using a health habit and diet questionnaire at the time of blood collection.

Clinical usefulness of telomerase activation and telomere length in head and neck cancer.

Background: Telomere shortening at every replication cycle is postulated to limit the life span of human somatic cells. In contrast, activation of telomerase is proposed to be an essential step for cancer cell immortalization. Head and neck cancer is the most common malignancy in the Indian population compared with Western countries.

Effects of hypothermia on myocardial substrate selection.

Background: Hypothermia lowers the metabolic rate and increases ischemic tolerance but the effects of temperature on myocardial substrate selection are not well defined.

Methods: Isolated rat hearts were perfused with physiologic concentrations of 13C labeled lactate, pyruvate, acetoacetate, mixed long-chain fatty acids, and glucose. Hearts were cooled over 5 to 10 minutes to one of four target temperatures (37 degrees, 32 degrees, 27 degrees, or 17 degrees C), then perfused for an additional 30 minutes, freeze-clamped, and extracted.