title: Acetaldehyde production and microbial colonization in oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral lichenoid disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of this prospective study was to explore the ability of the oral microbiome to produce acetaldehyde in ethanol incubation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 90 patients [30 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC); 30 oral lichenoid disease (OLD); 30 healthy controls (CO)] were enrolled in the study. Microbial samples were taken from the mucosa using a filter paper method. The density of microbial colonization was calculated and the spectrum analyzed. Microbial acetaldehyde production was measured by gas chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority (68%) of cultures produced carcinogenic levels of acetaldehyde (>100 μM) when incubated with ethanol (22 mM). The mean acetaldehyde production by microbes cultured from smoker samples was significantly higher (213 μM) than from non-smoker samples (141 μM) (P=.0326).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The oral microbiota from OSCC, OLD patients and healthy individuals are able to produce carcinogenic levels of acetaldehyde. The present provisional study suggests smoking may increase the production of acetaldehyde.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. emilia.marttila@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marttila
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uittamo
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rusanen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindqvist
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salaspuro
authors.forename: Riina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rautemaa
mesh_terms: D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D000079:Acetaldehyde