Diabetes does not influence oral oncogenesis through fibroblast growth factor receptors.

Background: Increased expression of fibroblast growth factors and their receptors (FGFRs) has recently been described in oral squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, we have previously described a molecular basis for an association between oral cancer and diabetes. The expression of FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 investigated in an experimental model of chemically induced carcinogenesis in normal and diabetic (type I) rats. Materials and Methods: Tissue sections ranging from normal mucosa to moderately-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma were studied using monoclonal antibodies against FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 proteins. Results: A similar pattern of elevated FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 expression was observed in the initial stages of oncogenesis for both diabetic and non-diabetic animals. In the last stages of oral oncogenesis, the expression of both proteins remained relatively stable. Conclusion: It seems that diabetes does not affect the FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 pattern of expression throughout the various stages of oral oncogenesis. The majority of malignant tumours of the oral cavity are oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), followed by adenocarcinomas and other rare types of malignant tumours (1). It is generally accepted that oral carcinogenesis is a multi-step process of accumulated genetic damage including the overexpression of oncogenes, the inactivation of tumour suppressor genes and the alteration of genes involved in the