Hydrogen Sulfide Is Increased in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Compared to Adjacent Benign Oral Mucosae.

Background/aim: Hydrogen sulfide (HS) and the enzymes that synthesize it, cystathionine-b-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate, are increased in different human malignancies. Due to its short half-life, HS concentrations have not been directly measured in a human malignancy. Here we directly measured in vivo HS levels within oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Patients And Methods: Punch biopsies of OSCC and benign mucosae from 15 patients were analyzed by HPLC, western blotting, and tissue microarray analyses.

Results: HS concentrations were significantly higher in OSCC compared to adjacent benign oral mucosae. Western blot and tissue microarray studies revealed significantly increased cystathionine-b-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate, phopho-Stat3, mitoNEET, hTERT, and MAPK protein levels in OSCC.

Conclusion: HS concentrations and the enzymes that synthesize it are significantly increased in OSCC. Here, for the first time HS concentrations within a living human malignancy were measured and compared to adjacent counterpart benign tissue.