Introduction: Oral cancer is one of the 10 most common cancer among all cancers and oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common of all oral malignancies. DNA damage can be assessed by considering micronuclei as a biomarker. Oral buccal mucosa is an easily accessible tissue hence DNA damage can be studied conveniently by examining these buccal mucosal cells.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the DNA damage (micronucleus) and cellular death (pyknosis, karyolysis and karyorhexis) of exfoliated buccal mucosal cells.
Materials and Methods: It was a cross sectional study conducted on 50 subjects of young healthy smokers and non-smokers respectively. The buccal mucosal cells were exfoliated using Ayer’s spatula and were transferred to in isopropyl alcohol/acetic acid fixative. This specimen was centrifuged and the sediment was stained with PAP stain. Then nuclear phenotypes were checked by counting 500 cells in oil immersion.
Inclusion criteria:
· Smokers who smoked more than 10 cigarettes/day for at least 5 years.
· Only male smokers included.
Exclusion criteria:
· Subjects with history of both alcohol and tobacco intake were excluded.
· Any clinically evident changes in the oral cavity related to the habit.
Results: Among the 50 smokers and 50 non-smokers subjects, Smokers presented with more micronucleated, pyknotic, karyorrhectic and karyolytic cells (p < 0.0001) than non-smokers.
Conclusion: Cigarette smoking induces DNA damage and leads to cellular death by increasing the above parameters in buccal mucosa cells and hence these parameters can be considered as indicators in predicting the risk of oral cancer.
Keywords: Exfoliative buccal cells, Micronucleus, Pyknosis, Karyorrhexis, Karyolysis
