title: Loss of expression of DNA repair enzyme MGMT in oral leukoplakia and early oral squamous cell carcinoma. A prognostic tool?
abstract: MGMT is a specific DNA repair enzyme that removes alkylating lesions and therefore plays an important role in maintaining normal cell physiology and genomic stability. Loss of expression of MGMT is associated with increased carcinogenic risk and sensitivity to methylating agents in different types of tumours. The expression of MGMT was immunohistochemically assessed in 12 normal oral mucosa, 38 oral leukoplakias and 33 early oral squamous cell carcinomas. The results were correlated with clinicopathological data. We found a significant loss of MGMT protein expression from leukoplakia when compared with early squamous cell carcinoma. We also observed a statistically significant relationship between smoking and the loss of MGMT protein expression. Loss of MGMT expression could be considered an early event in oral carcinogenesis with possible prognostic implications.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Estomatologia, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad del País Vasco/EHU, Barrio Sarriena s/n. 48940 Leioa. Vizcaya, Spain.
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Acha
authors.forename: María T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ruesga
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aguirre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011379:Prognosis; D012907:Smoking; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase