CYTOGENETIC DAMAGE IN EXFOLIATED ORAL MUCOSAL CELLS AND CIRCULATING LYMPHOCYTES OF PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM PRECANCEROUS ORAL LESIONS

One hundred patients suffering from oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), ora l leukoplakia (OL) and oral lichen planus (OLP) were studied for the c ytogenetic damage in oral mucosal cells and in circulating lymphocytes along with their habit patterns. It was observed that OSF was largely associated with betel nut containing masticants while OL was associat ed with chewing or smoking habit. It was further observed that their e xfoliated oral mucosal cells had significantly higher numbers of micro nucleated (Mn) cells as compared to those of healthy normal subjects w ithout any chewing or smoking habit. Similar cytogenetic damage in the form of increased sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) was observed in ci rculating lymphocytes indicating that the carcinogenic agents produce damage not only in target tissue but also in other host cells such as circulating lymphocytes.