Evaluation of expression of mast cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients

Worldwide, oral cancer accounts for 2%-4% of all cancer cases. Mast cells are major immunoeffector cells of connective tissue; they are well-engineered, multifunctional cells which play a central role in acquired and innate immunity and have a phagocytic function that might thereby contribute to host defense. Hence; the present study was undertaken for assessing the expression of Mast Cells in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma patients.

A total of 20 OSCC cases and 20 healthy controls of normal oral mucosa were enrolled. Demographic and clinical data of all the cases was obtained. The biopsied tissue were processed and embedded in paraffin wax. The paraffin blocks were sectioned with a rotary manual soft-tissue microtome into two tissue sections of 5 μm thickness. One section was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and other section was stained using 1% toluidine blue in 1% sodium chloride solution for evaluating mast cells. The slides were studied under a light microscope. The mast cell granules stained brilliant red/purple and the background stained in different shades of blue. Counting of the mast cells was done using microscope at high power.

Intact mast cells were 14.5 per mm ² in the normal oral mucosa group and 26.3 per mm ² in OSCC group. Degranulated mast cells were 9.32 per mm² in the normal oral mucosa group and 33.12 per mm² in OSCC group. Overall, total mast cells were 23.82 per mm² in the normal oral mucosa group and 59.42 per mm² in OSCC group. While analysing statistically, it was seen that total mast cell count was significantly higher in OSCC group.

There is significant rise of mast cells in OSCC cases. Mast cells serves as a novel therapeutic target for cancer treatment as inhibition of mast cell function may impede cancerous growth. However; further studies are recommended.