American Journal of Oral Medicine and Radiology

THE COMET ASSAY A METHOD TO MEASURE DNA DAMAGE IN ORAL SUBMUCOUS FIBROSIS AND ORAL LEUKOPLAKIA PATIENTS: A CASE CONTROL STUDY

M.Shanmuga sundaram*, K.Saraswathi Gopal, B.G.Harsha Vardhan

shanmugadr@gmail.com

Oral submucous fibrosis, Leukoplakia, Buccal exfoliated cells, Comet assay, Tail length, DNA damage.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the DNA damage in oral submucous fibrosis and leukoplakia patients and to correlate with the normal population. The present study, “The comet assay a method to measure DNA damage in Oral submucous fibrosis and Oral leukoplakia patients; A case control study” was conducted in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology and the Central Research Laboratory, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, MAHER University, Chennai. The clearance for conducting the study was obtained from Ethical Committee, MAHER University following the regular protocols. The patients were divided into 3 groups. Group I consists of 20 Oral submucous fibrosis patients, group II consists of 20 Leukoplakia patients and group 3 consists of 20 control patients. Buccal exfoliate cells have been collected from all the patients in the group and the DNA damage is evaluated by the method of Single cell gel electrophoresis technique/ comet assay technique. The mean tail length of the DNA obtained from the buccal epithelial cells of the Oral submucous fibrosis subjects(group I) was 9.14(±2.08), leukoplakia subjects(group II) was 11.83(±1.21) and control subjects(group III) was 3.81(±0.49) respectively. The mean tail length of DNA obtained from the buccal epithelial cells of leukoplakia which was 11.83(±1.21) which was significantly higher when compared to the epithelial samples obtained from the oral submucous fibrosis group and control group with a P value <0.001. Also the tail length of the DNA obtained was compared with the duration of the habit and types of habits which has a positive co relation between the tail length damage to type of habit and duration of the habit. We conclude that analysing DNA damage using comet assay for potentially malignant disorder patients is a useful tool in dentistry for early identification of the malignant transformation of the affected patients. Hence, this non-invasive technique is required for screening the patients with potentially malignant disorders. Abbreviations: OSMF- oral submucous fibrosis, PBS – phosphate buffer saline, DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid, PMD – Potentially malignant disorders, WHO – world health organization.