High Level of Estrogen in Male Oral Cancer Patients and Consumption of Smokeless Tobacco

Abstract

Oral cancer is the most common form of cancer and cancer-related deaths among Indian males. 70-75% of these cases are due to chewing tobacco. Estrogen and testosterone both are an important hormone for male and female. Estrogen has an important role in the development of breast cancer, ovarian cancer etc. There are very few studies available which describe the increased oral cancer incidence and level of estrogen in male oral cancer patients and use of smokeless tobacco consumption among the same type of cancer patients. Therefore, the present study has been aimed to find out the prevalence of oral cancer due to consumption of smokeless tobacco, sub-site distribution and level of estrogen in the oral cancer patients in Bihar. In the present study 126 patients suffering from oral cancer were selected randomly. The background data obtained were categorized into sex-wise as well as age-wise oral cancer incidence, carcinoma site, frequency of oral cancer and the type of tobacco addiction among the surveyed oral cancer patients. Estrogen level in male oral cancer patients was assessed by ELISA-kit method. Addiction of khaini among all of the smoke and smokeless tobacco consuming persons in Bihar was found higher. Prevalence of oral cancer was four times higher in male patients than the female and the level of estrogen hormone in male oral cancer patients were found elevated. In conclusion, high oral cancer incidence has been observed among people of Bihar. Most popular form of smokeless tobacco is khaini mainly used by illiterate people. Elevated level of estrogen hormone in male oral cancer patients may be associated with the increased incidence of oral cancer among people of Bihar. It may further provide some evidence to understand the whole mechanism of oral cancer.