An In vitro Study of the Isolation of Candidal Strains in Patients at Increased Risk of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

OSCC stands as a prominent oral malignancy that develops because of lifestyle behavior and microbial activity. The pathogenesis of OSCC receives attention through modern research since Candida species reportedly contribute to the development of OSCC through inflammatory responses and nitrosamine generation and epithelial tissue malformation.

Sixty subjects participated in this in vitro study, which was separated into two distinct groups: Group A with 30 patients who had high OSCC risk oral lesions (leukoplakia and erythroplakia) and Group B which included 30 healthy subjects. A laboratory research involved collecting samples through swabs from saliva and mucosa, which were subsequently cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) alongside CHROMagar for fungal detection. The researchers identified isolated colonies by checking their ability to form germ tubes combined with carbohydrate assimilation tests.

Out of the 30 Group A samples, 80% (24/30) demonstrated candidal growth where Candida albicans constituted 70.8% of strains and Candida tropicalis made up 16.7% alongside Candida glabrata counting for 12.5%. The overall candidal growth among participants in Group B was limited to 30% (9/30) as C. albicans constituted 88.9%, whereas C. glabrata accounted for 11.1%. The incidence of candidal colonization proved markedly higher among the high-risk group compared to controls according to statistical analysis (P = 0.002).

The numbers of Candida species, particularly C. albicans, rise substantially within the oral environments of patients dealing with potentially malignant disorders. The obtained data support the possibility that oral cancer development may be related to candidal colonization, thus demanding additional studies on this association.