Cigarette smoking promotes cancer-related transformation of oral epithelial cells through activation of Wnt and MAPK pathway

Aim: Study aims to investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on cancer-related transformation in oral epithelial cells of smokers through evaluating the alteration in Wnt/beta-catenin and MAPK pathways. Materials & methods: Exfoliated oral epithelial cells were collected from 138 subjects and categorized into nonsmokers, smokers and clinically diagnosed precancer and cancer patients. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to detect the fold changes of related genes. Expressions of biomarkers were assessed using immunofluorescence and western blot. Results: Study shows significant (p < 0.001) alteration in mRNA level of TNF-alpha, NF-kappa beta, FZD1, beta-catenin, PARD 3, MAPK1 and vimentin genes under cigarette smoking. Conclusion: Results suggested the progression of oral cancer under cigarette smoking occurs through multiple events and activation of canonical Wnt/MAPK pathways.