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Nitric oxide metabolism in cancerous and non‐cancerous oral gingivomucosal tissues: possible implications of nitric oxide in cancer process
Author(s) -
Avci A.,
TüzünerÖncül A. M.,
Gökcan M. K.,
Namuslu M.,
Öztürk A.,
Durak İ.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2008.00719.x
Subject(s) - nitric oxide , nitric oxide synthase , cancer , angiogenesis , immune system , apoptosis , stimulation , antioxidant , cytokine , medicine , cancer research , chemistry , pharmacology , pathology , biology , immunology , biochemistry
Purpose: Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule that plays various roles in the body tissues. NO plays important roles in vasodilatation, platelet aggregation, cytokine stimulation, neurotransmission, immune function, etc. NO also exerts dual functions as an oxidant and antioxidant substance depending on its concentrations and environmental conditions. In this study, we aimed to examine possible correlation between NO levels and NO synthase (NOS) activity in the patients with oral cancer. Materials and methods: The study included 19 tissues from human subjects (11 malign and eight benign lesions). Results: NO level and NOS activity were found decreased in the malign lesions compared with those of the benign ones. Conclusions: In conclusion, two suggestions can be made; first, decreased NO synthesis may be an attempt to suppress angiogenesis, which is known to provide more essential nutrients to malign lesions and/or second, malign lesions may suppress NO production to be capable of creating more rapid proliferation as it has been known that NO is also a powerful free radical inducing apoptosis.