Contents
Download PDF
pdf Download XML
312 Views
152 Downloads
Share this article
Research Article | Volume 13 Issue:2 (, 2023) | Pages 263 - 271
Alterations in Apoptosis Pathway- A Cause for Malignant Transformation
Under a Creative Commons license
Open Access
DOI : 10.5083/ejcm
Published
April 20, 2023
Abstract

Aims and objective: Apoptosis is essential physiological process of eliminating cells with damaged DNA. Any alterations in the apoptotic pathway may result increased malignant potential. Oral leukoplakia is an important health issue, especially in countries where the use of tobacco is almost a social habit. A significant proportion of cases of oral leukoplakia progress to the squamous cell carcinoma. Although the role of tobacco in causation and malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia is well established, but the cellular pathways affected by the tobacco use are not yet clear. The aim of the present paper was to study the effect of tobacco in alteration of apoptosis and proteins involved in apoptotic pathway and K-ras in oral leukoplakia. Material and Methods: Two hundred and thirty cases of oral leukoplakia were included in the study. These cases were divided into tobacco-consuming and non tobacco-consuming groups depending upon the history of tobacco intake (smoking or chewing). The presence and grade of dysplasia was noted from the histopathological reports. The apoptotic cells were identified by in-situ terminal TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL). The expression of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, bax and K-ras was studied in all the cases by immunohistochemistry. The apoptosis and caspase protein expression was then compared with control subjects using chi-square test. Result: The cases diagnosed with leukoplakia were grouped according to use of tobacco. In both the groups a statistical significant increase in apoptosis, caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, bax and K-ras was observed as compared to controls.  On comparison between the groups, the apoptosis and proteins involved in apoptotic pathway in tobacco group with dysplasia were significantly lower than the non tobacco-consuming group with dysplasia. An increase in K-ras oncogene expression was found in leukoplakia-dysplasia of tobacco-consuming group. Conclusion: A significant decrease in the proteins mediating the extrinsic and intrinsic pathway of apoptosis was observed in the tobacco-consuming group, which indicates possible role of tobacco carcinogens in malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia.

Keywords
Recommended Articles
Research Article
A Study on Cardiovascular Dysfunction in End Stage Renal Disease Patients on Haemodialysis using Echocardiography
...
Published: 29/10/2025
Download PDF
Research Article
Rotational Atherectomy versus Cutting Balloon Angioplasty in Severely Calcified Coronary Lesions: A Prospec-tive Single-Center Comparative Study
...
Published: 29/10/2025
Download PDF
Research Article
Clinical Epidemiology of Carcinoma of Prostate: An Eastern India scenario
Published: 28/10/2025
Download PDF
Research Article
I-gel versus Endotracheal Tube for Airway Management in Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Prospective Randomized Study
...
Published: 29/10/2025
Download PDF
Chat on WhatsApp
Copyright © EJCM Publisher. All Rights Reserved.