Diagnosing malignant transformation potential in oral submucous fibrosis with leukoplakia: an approach utilizing deoxyribonucleic acid image cytometry

Abstract

Abstract Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic oral condition with a potential for malignant transformation. This study aims to investigate the correlation between DNA aneuploidy and dysproliferative lesions in OSF using DNA image cytometry to provide insights into cancer risk assessment. The study included patients diagnosed with OSF, OSF combined with oral leukoplakia (OLK), OSF that progressed to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and healthy controls. Exfoliated oral mucosal cells were collected and analyzed using DNA image cytometry. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 22.0 to compare the results across different groups. The study revealed that DNA image cytometry demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing OSCC and epithelial dysplasia. Furthermore, the frequency of abnormal DNA content in oral exfoliated cells from patients with OSF + OLK significantly increased with the grade of abnormal histopathological epithelial proliferation. Significant differences in DNA content were observed between the OSF, OSF + OLK, and OSCC groups. Additionally, patients with OSF showed no significant difference in DNA content between the buccal and tongue mucosae, but those with OSF + OLK demonstrated differences in DNA content between the OSF and OLK lesion areas. DNA image cytometry is a valuable tool for assessing cancer risk in OSF patients, particularly those with coexisting OLK. The findings suggest that OSF + OLK patients have a higher risk of cancer than those with OSF alone, providing crucial scientific evidence for predicting cancer risk and guiding early intervention strategies.

Keywords

• DNA image cytometry
• Oral submucous fibrosis
• Oral leukoplakia
• Oral squamous cell carcinoma
• Epithelial dysplasia