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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Modeling Oral-Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in 3D Organoids
Published on: December 23, 2022
Hydrogen Sulfide Is Increased in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Compared to Adjacent Benign Oral Mucosae
Andrew T Meram1, Jie Chen2, Stavan Patel1
1Head & Neck Oncologic/Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery Department of Oral & Maxillofacial/Head & Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, U.S.A.
Background/Aim:
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and the enzymes that synthesize it, cystathionine-b-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate, are increased in different human malignancies. Due to its short half-life, H2S concentrations have not been directly measured in a human malignancy. Here we directly measured in vivo H2S levels within oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Patients And Methods:
Punch biopsies of OSCC and benign mucosae from 15 patients were analyzed by HPLC, western blotting, and tissue microarray analyses.
Results:
H2S concentrations were significantly higher in OSCC compared to adjacent benign oral mucosae. Western blot and tissue microarray studies revealed significantly increased cystathionine-b-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate, phopho-Stat3, mitoNEET, hTERT, and MAPK protein levels in OSCC.
Conclusion:
H2S concentrations and the enzymes that synthesize it are significantly increased in OSCC. Here, for the first time H2S concentrations within a living human malignancy were measured and compared to adjacent counterpart benign tissue.
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