Histochemical studies on the distribution of certain dehydrogenases in squamous cell carcinoma of cheek

Histochemical distribution of lactate, isocitrate and succinate dehydrogenases in normal oral epithelium and in well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of cheek region was studied. Lactate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and succinate dehydrogenase activity was found to be more in the malignant cells. Succinate and lactate dehydrogenase presented a conspicuous pattern in which the cells located at the periphery of the malignant sheets in well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma showed moderate to intense activity as compared to cells in the central portion. The results are discussed and it is suggested that the enhanced glycolysis and subdued function of the tricarboxylic acid cycle is not a universal criterion during malignancy as reported in the previous investigations.