Candida albicans Enhances the Progression of Oral Squamous Cell CarcinomaIn VitroandIn Vivo

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a serious health issue worldwide that accounts for 2% to 4% of all cancer cases. Previous studies have revealed a higher yeast carriage and diversity in oral cancer patients than in healthy individuals.

The oral mycobiome: Oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…43,44 More recent findings have also shown the tumor-promoting nature of C. albicans in already established malignant epithelial cells in vitro. 45 More specifically, live C. albicans were shown to increase the migration ability, activation of matrix metalloproteinases, secretion of metabolites implicated in the epithelial to mesenchymal transition process, and expression of genes implicated in metastatic processes. The ability of Candida to promote stepwise oral carcinogenesis in 4NQO mice was also validated by the same study.…”

“…Infection with Candida or treatment with the carcinogen 4Nitroquinoline 1‐oxide (4NQO) alone was not sufficient to cause dysplastic changes in animal models of rodent tongues, while in the presence of both 4NQO and Candida , OED resulted 43,44 . More recent findings have also shown the tumor‐promoting nature of C. albicans in already established malignant epithelial cells in vitro 45 . More specifically, live C. albicans were shown to increase the migration ability, activation of matrix metalloproteinases, secretion of metabolites implicated in the epithelial to mesenchymal transition process, and expression of genes implicated in metastatic processes.…”

“…The ability of Candida to promote stepwise oral carcinogenesis in 4NQO mice was also validated by the same study. 45 This study also used OSCC xenograft mouse models to investigate the role of Candida in oral carcinogenesis. However, due to the immunocompromised nature of the animals as well as the short span of this model, the findings may not adequately translate to human subjects.…”

Is Candida albicans an opportunistic oncogenic pathogen?

“…albicans or administration of the carcinogen 4NQO [ 21 ] failed to cause dysplastic changes in animal models; however, in combination, oral epithelial dysplasia occured, indicating that C . albicans may have promoted dysplastic changes [ 21 – 23 ]. The potential tumor promoting roles of Candida were also confirmed by in vitro studies in oral cancer cells in which C .…”

“…The potential tumor promoting roles of Candida were also confirmed by in vitro studies in oral cancer cells in which C . albicans increased the migration ability, expression of matrix metalloproteinases, secretion of oncometabolites, and expression of metastasis-related genes [ 23 ]. An underestimated alternative hypothesis is that oral candidiasis and a dysplastic epithelium are unrelated pathophysiologically or that they display the inverse cause-and-effect relationships, as Candida infections and premalignancy display common predisposing factors, most notably immunosuppression [ 24 , 25 ].…”