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Mapping dynamic epithelial cell proliferative activity within the oral cavity of man: a new insight into carcinogenesis?

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Peter Thomson

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Abstract

Our aim was to characterize epithelial cell proliferative activity within the oral cavity and to find out if there were differences between sites with high and low incidence of cancer. A total of 105 samples of clinically normal mucosa were harvested from various intra-oral sites. Excised specimens were incubated in vitro with tritiated thymidine and bromodeoxyuridine to 'double label' cells undergoing DNA synthesis, and enable calculation of the duration of S phase and estimation of variables of cell flux to and from S, Mean labelling indices (percentage of cells within the S phase of the cell cycle) were highest in the floor of mouth (12.3%) and ventral tongue (10.1%), while activity was lowest in the dorsum of tongue (4.3%) and the palate (7.2%), P<0.001. In general, both cell influx and the duration of S increased proportionally to the labelling index. Sites with a high incidence of cancer were characterized by high labelling indices, increased cell influx and a prolonged S phase.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Thomson PJ, Potten CS, Appleton DR

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Year: 1999

Volume: 37

Issue: 5

Pages: 377-383

Print publication date: 01/10/1999

ISSN (print): 0266-4356

ISSN (electronic): 1532-1940

Publisher: Churchill Livingstone

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1054/bjom.1999.0130

DOI: 10.1054/bjom.1999.0130

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