Hydrogen Sulfide Is Increased in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Compared to Adjacent Benign Oral Mucosae.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hydrogen sulfide (HS) and the enzymes that synthesize it, cystathionine-b-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate, are increased in different human malignancies. Due to its short half-life, HS concentrations have not been directly measured in a human malignancy. Here we directly measured in vivo HS levels within oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Punch biopsies of OSCC and benign mucosae from 15 patients were analyzed by HPLC, western blotting, and tissue microarray analyses.

RESULTS

HS concentrations were significantly higher in OSCC compared to adjacent benign oral mucosae. Western blot and tissue microarray studies revealed significantly increased cystathionine-b-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate, phopho-Stat3, mitoNEET, hTERT, and MAPK protein levels in OSCC.

CONCLUSION

HS concentrations and the enzymes that synthesize it are significantly increased in OSCC. Here, for the first time HS concentrations within a living human malignancy were measured and compared to adjacent counterpart benign tissue.