Understanding precancerous lesions of the oral cavity^†

Abstract

Precancerous lesions provide insight into tumor development as well as prognostication, since distinguishing high‐risk from benign disease will stratify clinical management. In a recent issue of The Journal of Pathology, Ghosh et al performed comprehensive genomic characterization of the precancerous lesion leukoplakia, comparing RNA and DNA with peripheral blood, normal mucosa, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the gingivobuccal region of the oral cavity from the same 28 individuals. The data paint a picture of increasing mutation and early caspase‐8 inactivation on the background of inflammation with decreasing immune surveillance in the progression from benign leukoplakia to SCC. This research points to an opportunity for disease intercept at the premalignant niche prior to the development of malignancy. © 2022 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Evidence for etiologic field changes in tongue distant from tumor in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue

“…Moreover, age‐associated signatures SBS1 and SBS5 are the major signatures in tumor‐distal samples, whereas SBS2 and SBS12, attributed to aberrant APOBEC activity, were found only in tumors. These data are in agreement with recent findings, in which APOBEC mutational signatures were predominant in oral SCC compared to tumor‐adjacent and oral leukoplakia not proximal to tumors [ 43 , 44 ]. The cause of increased APOBEC activity in tumors is not fully understood but has been related to viral infection and transposon jumping [ 45 ], to chronic tissue damage [ 46 ], or, more simply, to oncogenic changes that themselves lead to increased proliferation, DNA damage, and replication stress [ 47 , 48 ].…”

Advancing clinical cancer care: Unveiling the power of surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy

“…The findings suggest a progressive decrease in immunosurveillance and an increase in mutation rates during cancer development. 102 Although ovarian cancer precursor lesions are currently compared with other common cancers, molecular evidence suggests that tubal plasmacytoid intraepithelial carcinoma may serve as a precursor lesion in most advanced plasmacytoid ovarian cancers. 103,104 SERS technology holds the potential for early diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer precursor lesions.…”

“…Researchers have utilized SERS technology to comprehensively characterize the genome of precancerous white spots and compared RNA and DNA expression differences in peripheral blood, normal mucosa, and squamous cell carcinoma in the buccal region of the oral gingiva in 28 patients. The findings suggest a progressive decrease in immunosurveillance and an increase in mutation rates during cancer development 102 . Although ovarian cancer precursor lesions are currently under‐recognized compared with other common cancers, molecular evidence suggests that tubal plasmacytoid intraepithelial carcinoma may serve as a precursor lesion in most advanced plasmacytoid ovarian cancers 103,104 .…”