Objective: To provide evidence for using micronucleated cells of exfoliated oral mucosa cells in diagnosis and treatment of oral leukoplakias and chemopreventive studies of oral cancer.
Methods: Micronuclei of exfoliated oral mucosa cells and oral mucosa cells in 119 patients comprising 59 simple hyperplasia, 32 mild and moderate oral leukoplakia and 28 severe oral leukoplakia and oral squamous carcinoma by Feulgen stain method were examined, and micronuclei of exfoliated oral mucosa cells in 100 normal persons were also examined.
Results: Frequency of micronucleated cells of exfoliated oral mucosa cells in oral leukoplakia lesions was higher than that of normal persons. Frequency of micronucleated cells of exfoliated oral mucosa cells had a positive correlation with oral leukoplakia lesions(r = 0.9997, P < 0.001) and with frequency of micronucleated cells of oral mucosa cells (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Frequency of micronucleated cells of exfoliated oral mucosa cells are useful markers to the clinician to predict oral leukoplakia behaviour and prognosis and substitute for frequency of micronucleated cells of oral mucosa cells as intermediate endpoint in chemopreventive trials.