Risk of oral tongue cancer among immunocompromised transplant recipients and human immunodeficiency virus‐infected individuals in the United States

Abstract

Similar modest increases in the risk of oral tongue and other oral cavity SCCs do not suggest that an infectious agent or exposure profoundly affected by immunosuppression underlies the increase in oral tongue cancer. Cancer 2018;124:2515-22. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

Impact of early recognition of potentially malignant oral disorders on the prognosis in people living with HIV

“…Despite the innocuous appearance of the cases, some characteristics such as the erosive/ulcerated areas (case 1) and the persistent symptomatology (case 2) led us to reexamine the lesions more closely. Interestingly, while the patients had no tobacco/alcohol consumption history, they had very low CD4 þ cell counts at the time of HIV diagnosis, an indicator of severe immunosuppression 5,14 and therefore, of partial immune restoration, a factor possibly associated with HPV-16 in case 1.…”

“…Current evidence reveals an increase in the incidence of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). [1][2][3][4][5] The tobacco and alcohol cumulative consumption, HIV-related immunodeficiency, and human papillomavirus (HPV) susceptibility may contribute to the increased incidence of HNSCC in this population. 6,7 Oral cancer is often preceded by precursor entities termed potentially malignant disorders (PMDs), of which the opportune recognition and treatment helps prevent cancer progression.…”

The role of Candida albicans candidalysin ECE1 gene in oral carcinogenesis

“…Thus, a defect in the immune system and overexpression of the C albicans virulence traits represent a risk factor for C albicans infections that have malignant potential. 23,24 Colonization by C albicans is initiated with the adhesion of the fungus to the host cell surface with a subsequent morphological switch from yeast to hyphae. 25 Alnuaimi et al 19 Mature caspase-1 enzymes induce the production of active IL-1β…”

“…C albicans invades leukoplakias when there is an imbalance between C albicans virulence factors and host defences, which commonly occurs in immunocompromised individuals. Thus, a defect in the immune system and overexpression of the C albicans virulence traits represent a risk factor for C albicans infections that have malignant potential 23,24 …”

Innate immune mechanisms to oral pathogens in oral mucosa of HIV‐infected individuals

“…This is important considering nine studies suggesting periodontal disease may increase the risk for oral cancer by 2–5‐fold (Javed & Warnakulasuriya, 2016). PLWH on ART have a greater risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) of the oropharynx and tongue compared to the general population (Purgina, Pantanowitz, & Seethala, 2011; Tota et al., 2018). Based on these and the published data suggesting a role for ART in the development of non‐communicable complications (Casper, Crane, Menon, & Money, 2017), investigators are starting to focus on ART as a possible risk factor for head and neck cancers (HNCs) in PLWH (Silverberg et al., 2015).…”