Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent researches has shown a significant association between microorganisms and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Porphyromonas gingivalis, the keystone pathogen in chronic periodontitis, is considered as an important potential etiologic agent of OSCC, but the underlying mechanisms by which P. gingivalis mediates OSCC progression remain poorly understood. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of P. gingivalis in oral potentially malignant disorders, oral squamous cell carcinoma and normal oral mucosa using qRT-PCR. METHOD AND MATERIAL: Genomic DNA was extracted and quantified, and the expression of the P. gingivalis levels was done in 16 cases of oral potentially malignant disorders, 16 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and 16 cases of normal oral mucosa by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: It was observed that there was an over expression of P. gingivalis in both oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma with good mean cycle threshold (CT) value of 27.00 and 27.55, respectively. When comparing the levels of P. gingivalis in three groups, oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) showed higher expression than normal mucosa and in between two groups OSCC showed higher expression than OPMD and the difference is statistically significant with P value less than 0.001. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that there is an over expression of P. gingivalis in oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma, compared to normal mucosa and highly expressed in OSCCs compared to OPMD. Increased levels of P. gingivalis in OPMDs and OSCCs may suggest the early event of tumorigenesis. Hence, it can be used as a valuable marker for early diagnosis, prognosis marker and in the identification of therapeutic targets.