title: Characterization of autofluorescence in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: This study was carried out to evaluate the clinical characteristics of autofluorescence in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and analyze the fluorescent substances using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fifty of 55 oral SCCs (91%) emitted orange or red fluorescence, which was recorded by fluorescence photography. The intensity of the fluorescence significantly correlated with the T and N categories of the cancers, but did not show statistical difference for the types of clinical appearance and primary sites. Protoporphyrin and coproporphyrin were identified as the fluorescent substance in the SCC samples, and the elution patterns on HPLC revealed some porphyrin compounds as specific to oral cancer. These results suggest that the autofluorescence in oral SCC correlates with the progression of lesions, and that fluorescent substances such as protoporphyrin are produced in association with the cancerous tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan. k-oni@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kojiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Onizawa
authors.forename: Naomichi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saginoya
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003306:Coproporphyrins / Q000032:analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D010781:Photography; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000032:analysis; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003306:Coproporphyrins; D011166:Porphyrins; D011524:Protoporphyrins