title: The assessment of the robustness of microRNAs from oral cytological scrapings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sampling of suspect oral lesions in the general dental clinic may increase early carcinoma detection thus oral cancer survival rates. One means of lesion sampling that is an alternative to incisional biopsy is cytological scraping. MicroRNA alterations are also being explored as a means of diagnosing carcinoma as an alternative to histopathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained cytological scrapings using 10 strokes ('light') or 40 strokes ('heavy') from the buccal mucosa of one healthy subject using a dermatological curette. MicroRNA was isolated from oral cytological scrapings immediately, or the scrapings were stored in buffer or RNA later, at 4°C, room temperature or 36°C, from 1 to 7 days prior to RNA isolation. All scrape comparisons and test conditions were conducted in triplicate. MicroRNAs were measured using qRT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MicroRNAs can be obtained from cytological scrapings independent of the number of strokes and can be measured using qRT-PCR after storage under all conditions tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MicroRNAs are robust to a wide range of storage conditions that bodes well for use of cytological scrapings to be of use in a clinical setting as a chair side sampling method for suspect oral lesions.
authors: Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Gareema
authors: G
authors: Prasad
authors: Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Seers
authors: Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Reynolds
authors: Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: McCullough
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D009055:Mouth / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: microRNA; oral cancer; oral mucosa; oral pre-cancer