Candida albicans as a promoter of oral mucosal neoplasia

Abstract

A model of oral mucosal carcinogenesis using the water-soluble carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) was combined with a model of oral mucosal candidosis to examine the ability of Candida albicans to promote the development of neoplasia in suitably initiated epithelium. Sprague-Dawley rats were initiated by the application of 4NQO to their palatal and tongue mucosa 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. The animals then received either application of a phorbol ester to act as a promoter, induction of experimental oral mucosal infection with C. albicans, or no further procedures. Animals were killed at 34 or 52 weeks and the tongues and palates sectioned for light-microscopic examination. Control groups with no treatment, mucosal infection only, phorbol ester application only, 4NQO with the tetracycline or vehicle application only were also used. The development of carcinoma in the experimental groups was similar to that in the positive control groups, indicating that the particular strain of Candida used had a similar ability to promote neoplastic changes as the known promoter phorbol-12,13-didecanoate and caused neoplastic changes to occur by week 34 with no additional lesions occurring by week 52. This indicated that the speculation that strains of C. albicans may participate in causing neoplastic transformation in humans was well founded.

Effects of the Antifungal Agent Itraconazole on Proliferative Changes of the Forestomach Mucosa in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

“…796 SANO ET AL. TOXICOLOGIC PATHOLOGY in vitro (Williams et al 2001) and has been shown to have a promoter function in in vivo carcinogenesis studies (O'Grady and Reade 1992). Thus, the promoter function of C. albicans might be enhanced by the diabetic condition in the present study.…”

Oral cancer aetiopathogenesis; past, present and future aspects

“…Hence a synergistic effect with candidosis and life-style factors may exist in oral carcinogenesis. Candida also efficiently converts ethanol into carcinogenic acetaldehyde (23)(24)(25). However, there are no studies showing that control of Candida would affect the incidence of oral cancer.…”

Th17 Inflammation Model of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in Immunodeficient Mice

“…Opportunistic infections and inflammation caused by C. albicans are associated with primary immunodeficiencies (PID) 4,5 , inflammatory disorders such as periodontitis 6,7 , Sjogren's syndrome, and salivary gland disease 8,9 , as well as oral squamous cell carcinoma [10][11][12] . C. albicans is a dimorphic commensal fungus that colonizes the mouths of 60% of healthy humans asymptomatically, yet it is the most common fungal pathogen causing infections when the host defense is weakened [13][14][15] .…”