Cytogenetic alterations in oral squamous cell carcinoma detected by karyotyping (g- banding)

Oral carcinogenesis is a multistep process in which multiple genetic events occurs that alter thenormal functions of genes. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common malignanttumours in India. Many patients still die of the disease in spite of therapeutic procedures being improved. Inour study 30 OSCC cases and 10 controls were studied by means of karyotyping using G-band technique, outof which 5 chromosomal abnormal patients were found, in which chromosome 18 deletion being prominent.It is also site specific, 4 out 5 patients with karyotype abnormalities had the tumour on buccal mucosa. It wasalso noted, most of patients with chromosomal abnormality were tobacco chewers, suggesting chemicalcarcinogens in tobacco has an impact on the chromosomes.