title: Chemoprevention of oral cancer by topical application of black raspberries on high at-risk mucosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the preclinical efficacy of topical administration of freeze-dried black raspberries (BRBs) to inhibit the progression of premalignant oral lesions and modulate biomarkers of cancer development in high at-risk mucosa (HARM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Hamster cheek pouches (HCPs) were treated with carcinogen for 6 weeks to initiate a HARM microenvironment. Subsequently, right HCPs were topically administered a BRB suspension in short-term or long-term studies. After 12 weeks, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) multiplicity, SCC incidence, and cell proliferation rates were evaluated. mRNA expression was measured in short-term treated pouches for selected oral cancer biomarkers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SCC multiplicity (-41.3%), tumor incidence (-37.1%), and proliferation rate (-6.9%) were reduced in HCPs receiving BRBs. Topical BRBs correlated with an increase in RB1 expression in developing oral lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical BRBs inhibit SCC development when targeted to HARM tissues. These results support the translational role of BRBs to prevent oral cancer development in humans.
authors.affiliation: University College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; College of Dentistry The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: warnerbm@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Blake M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.affiliation: University College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Casto
authors.affiliation: University College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Knobloch
authors.affiliation: College of Dentistry The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Brent T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Accurso
authors.affiliation: University College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Weghorst
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000188:drug therapy*; D065856:Rubus
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor