title: [In vitro determination of the cytotoxic activity of saliva samples of smokers].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The question arised whether saliva can be included in populations monitoring of high risk groups for the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Cytotoxic mechanisms strongly influence the carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Saliva specimen of 131 abusing and non-abusing probands were tested on their biological (cytotoxic) effects to draw conclusions on the individual cancer risk. To determine the cytotoxic activity of saliva, we used the "plating efficiency index" of lungfibroblasts of the chinese hamster.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significantly increased cytotoxic effects in the saliva of smoking probands (p < 0.002). Regularly combined smoking and drinking of alcohol led to a highly significant increased risk of cytotoxic saliva in the tested persons (odds ratio: 17.4; p < 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Including patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, ongoing studies must prove the practical relevance of this biomarker for estimating the relative cancer risk in the upper aerodigestive tract.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg. marc.bloching@medizin.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bloching
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stephan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berghaus
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lautenschläger
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grummt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003043:Cocarcinogenesis; D006224:Cricetinae; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens