Wiley-Online-Library: Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine: Table of Contents

Bridging the Health Literacy Gap for Patients With Oral Cancer: Readability Enhancement With AI Chatbots

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 23:54:18 -0700

ABSTRACT

Background

Early diagnosis is crucial in improving oral cancer outcomes. Patient education materials support timely recognition and management. However, these resources are often written above recommended reading levels, beyond patients' health literacy and limiting accessibility.

Objectives

Journal of Oral Pathology &Medicine, Volume 55, Issue 5, Page 509-510, May 2026.

Issue Information

Wed, 06 May 2026 20:42:17 -0700

Journal of Oral Pathology &Medicine, Volume 55, Issue 5, Page i-iii, May 2026.

Imbalance of Free Radicals and Antioxidants in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Review

Toniya Raut, Namrata G. R. Raut, Neetu Jain, Shashi Keshwar, Sunil Shrestha — Wed, 06 May 2026 20:42:17 -0700

ABSTRACT

Background

The dynamic interplay between reactive free radicals (FR) and antioxidants (AO) can lead to either redox homeostasis or oxidative stress. Disruption of redox balance contributes to oxidative stress, a key factor in the pathogenesis of various conditions, notably oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). At low to moderate levels, FRs trigger adaptive mutations that initiate carcinogenesis and support neoplastic cell survival. In contrast, high concentrations of FRs exert cytotoxic effects, a mechanism exploited in radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Antioxidants counteract FRs, mitigating cellular damage—a benefit demonstrated in several clinical trials involving OPMDs. However, their efficacy in OSCC remains contentious.

Methods and Finding

This review explores the multifaceted roles of FRs and AOs in OPMD and OSCC, with emphasis on their contributions to carcinogenesis and therapeutic strategies. Tracking the FR–AO ratio during treatment may offer predictive insights into malignant transformation and facilitate early OSCC detection.

Papilliferous Keratoameloblastoma (PKA): Is It a Different Clinicopathological Entity or Histological Subtype of Conventional Ameloblastoma?

Wed, 06 May 2026 20:42:17 -0700

ABSTRACT

Background

Papilliferous keratoameloblastoma (PKA) is an exceptionally rare variant of conventional ameloblastoma, marked by papilliferous epithelial projections and prominent keratinization within an ameloblastomatous framework. Because of its rarity and overlap with other keratinizing odontogenic tumours, PKA is often overlooked and is not recognised in the current WHO classification. Limited awareness and inconsistent terminology contribute to diagnostic uncertainty and may affect clinical management.

Objectives

This review critically analysed all published PKA cases to describe their clinical, radiographic and histopathological features, evaluating whether PKA should be regarded as a distinct clinicopathological entity or a histological subtype of conventional ameloblastoma.

Materials and Methods

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was performed to identify all English-language reports of PKA. Extracted data included demographics, clinical presentation, radiographic findings, histopathology, treatment and outcomes. The information was synthesised and descriptively analysed.

Results

Seven cases of PKA were included. Patients ranged from 18 to 76 years (mean age: 50.4 years), with a male predominance. All lesions involved the right mandible. Clinically, most patients presented with slow-growing mandibular swellings, occasionally accompanied by pain or mucosal changes. Radiographs most often show multilocular radiolucencies with buccolingual expansion or cortical perforation. Histopathology consistently reveals classic ameloblastomatous epithelium with squamous metaplasia, keratin pearl formation, and distinctive papilliferous projections lining cystic spaces.

Conclusion

The uniform histopathological pattern observed across reported cases supports recognising PKA as a distinct histopathological subtype of conventional ameloblastoma. Its formal inclusion in odontogenic tumour classification appears justified, although further molecular and clinicopathological studies are needed to better define its biological behaviour.

Assessment of Organ‐Specific Fibrotic Biomarkers in Patients With Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Nikita Baheti, Gargi Sarode, Abhirami Premarajan, Sachin Sarode — Wed, 06 May 2026 20:42:17 -0700

ABSTRACT

Background

Oral submucous fibrosis is a potentially malignant disorder with a high malignant transformation rate. Areca nut, being the chief etiologic factor, when chewed, is known to be swallowed and absorbed into circulation resulting in several systemic effects. This is the first kind of report presenting serum organ-specific fibrosis biomarkers suggestive of functional and fibrotic changes in the visceral organs.

Methods

Various fibrotic biomarkers such as kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), alanine aminotransferace (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and its ratio to platelet index (APRI), suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (ST2), Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were analyzed.

Results

The present study evaluated potential systemic fibrotic involvement, modest elevations in ST2 and KL-6 levels in advanced OSF compared to early cases; however, all values remained within normal physiological limits. No significant differences were found between the OSF and healthy groups across all biomarkers. There was no renal involvement, no significant association between liver fibrosis and its systemic biomarkers, and there was minimal vascular involvement. Collectively, these findings support the hypothesis that OSF may be a localized fibrotic disorder with no detectable systemic biomarker alterations in its early to moderate stages.

Conclusions

This study provides an important step in bridging localized oral pathology and systemic disease monitoring. No significant systemic fibrosis was observed but methodology, findings, and recommendations offer a strong basis for future research. Despite the presence of evidence that favors a localized disease model for OSF in its early and advanced stages, systemic monitoring in future clinical paradigms is acknowledged.

Duplicated, Translocated Upper Lip and Maxilla: An Extremely Rare Congenital Craniofacial Anomaly With Novel Genetic Findings

Chen‐Xi Li, Di‐Shu Huang, Zhong‐Cheng Gong — Wed, 06 May 2026 20:42:17 -0700

The cardiometabolic burden of oral candidiasis (OC) is yet to be thoroughly elucidated.

Objective

To assess the risk of long-term cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes in patients with OC relative to those with two other common oral conditions: herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections and recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS).

Methods

A global retrospective cohort study comprised two analyses comparing patients with OC to those with HSV and RAS. The study groups were compared regarding the risk of 11 different cardiovascular and four metabolic outcomes. Propensity score matching was performed to optimize inter-group comparability.

Results

Relative to those with HSV infections, patients with OC were found to experience a higher risk of stroke (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.65–1.92), sudden cardiac death (HR, 2.46; 95% CI, 2.14–2.82), congestive heart failure (CHF; HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.80–2.06), hypertension (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.50–1.62), hyperlipidemia (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.13–1.24), type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM; HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.63–1.81), and obesity (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.27–1.38). Compared to RAS, OC demonstrated an elevated risk of myocardial infarction (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.40–1.54), stroke (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.25–1.36), pulmonary embolism (HR, 2.23; 95% CI, 2.11–2.35), peripheral vascular disease (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.29–1.41), atrial fibrillation (HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.55–1.68), CHF (HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.73–1.86), hyperlipidemia (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.33–1.40), DM (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.40–1.48), and obesity (HR, 1.30; 95% CI,1.27–1.34).

Conclusion

OC is associated with an elevated risk of cardiometabolic outcomes. Physicians managing patients with OC should be aware of these associations.

Association of p16 INK4A Methylation With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Wed, 06 May 2026 20:42:17 -0700

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Methylation of tumor-suppressor gene promoters, particularly p16 ^INK4A, is implicated in oral carcinogenesis. Although associations with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) have been reported, no systematic review has examined these conditions while assessing evidence certainty. This review evaluated whether p16 ^INK4A promoter methylation is associated with OSCC and OPMD.

Materials and Methods

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Livivo, and Google Scholar were searched. Studies were selected by title/abstract and then full-text review. Eligible studies investigated p16 ^INK4A methylation in OSCC or OPMD with comparator groups. Data were meta-analyzed using random-effects models to obtain pooled odds ratios (OR). Heterogeneity, publication bias, sensitivity analyses, and prediction intervals were assessed. Evidence certainty was rated using GRADE.

Results

Twenty-four studies were included, comprising 1330 OSCC patients, 606 OPMD patients, and 681 healthy controls. Meta-analyses demonstrated a strong association between p16 ^INK4A methylation and OSCC when compared with healthy controls (OR = 11.59; 95% CI = 6.01–22.37; p < 0.0001), with surgical margins (OR = 3.24; 95% CI = 1.86–5.65; p < 0.0001) and with OPMD (OR = 3.72; 95% CI = 2.47–5.59; p < 0.0001). OPMD also showed increased methylation versus healthy controls (OR = 24.8; 95% CI = 7.4–83.14; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Results

As an initial assessment of clinical relevance, miR-214-3p was significantly downregulated in DDP-resistant OSCC tissues and cells, whereas GPX4 expression was markedly upregulated. Overexpression of miR-214-3p substantially decreased cell viability, reduced the IC₅₀ values of DDP, and promoted apoptosis in resistant cells. In comparison to parental cells, resistant cells demonstrated lower levels of ROS and Fe²⁺. Overexpression of miR-214-3p or treatment with a ferroptosis inducer (Erastin) increased ROS and Fe²⁺ levels, an effect that was effectively reversed by a ferroptosis inhibitor (Ferrostatin-1). Bioinformatics analysis combined with luciferase reporter assays confirmed the direct binding of miR-214-3p to the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of GPX4. The overexpression of miR-214-3p resulted in the downregulation of GPX4, whereas overexpression of GPX4 reversed the effects mediated by miR-214-3p. Additionally, the overexpression of miR-214-3p in xenograft models inhibited tumor growth, which was correlated with decreased GPX4 expression and increased sensitivity to DDP.

Conclusion

Our findings reveal a novel miR-214-3p/GPX4/ferroptosis axis in OSCC DDP resistance. miR-214-3p suppresses GPX4 to promote ferroptosis, thereby reversing DDP resistance. This study identifies miR-214-3p as a potential therapeutic target for overcoming chemoresistance in OSCC by modulating ferroptosis.

Fragmented Thresholds, Unified Vision: Advancing Salivary Diagnostics for OSCC and OPMD

Hichem Moulahoum, Faezeh Ghorbanizamani — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 02:52:24 -0700

Conclusion

These findings support incorporating the extent of PNI into routine pathology reporting and suggest that END and PORT may be considered, particularly in cases of multifocal PNI.

Interpreting Machine Learning in Rare Outcomes

Carlos M. Ardila, Anny Marcela Vivares‐Builes, Eliana Pineda‐Vélez — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:39:31 -0700

Journal of Oral Pathology &Medicine, EarlyView.

Early‐Onset Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Emerging Biological Insights, Risk Factors and Clinical Implications

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0700

ABSTRACT

Background