title: In search of malignant transformation: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of oxygen free radicals in the initiation, promotion and progression of carcinogenesis and the protective role of antioxidant defenses has been the subject of much speculation in the recent past, with conflicting reports in the literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to measure the concentration of serum total proteins and albumin and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in the sera of patients diagnosed with speckled leukoplakia and well-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of sera analysis of 30 new cases of histologically proven well-differentiated, oral squamous cell carcinoma and 10 patients with speckled leukoplakia aged between 40 and 60 years in addition to 25 healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the difference between groups. To find out which of the two groups' mean was significantly different, post hoc test of Scheffe was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study revealed variations in sera levels of albumin and advanced oxidation protein products to be statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained emphasize the need for more studies with larger sample sizes to be conducted before a conclusive role for sera levels of total protein, albumin and AOPP could be drawn as markers of transition of the various oral precancerous lesions and conditions to frank oral squamous cell carcinoma.
authors: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Research Institute Bangalore, Karnataka, India. singhabhishek.rims@gmail.com
authors: Abhishek Singh
authors: AS
authors: Nayyar
authors: Mubeen
authors: M
authors: Khan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D062107:Advanced Oxidation Protein Products / Q000097:blood; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D062107:Advanced Oxidation Protein Products; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012709:Serum Albumin