Association between hyperglycemia and the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia in China
Jin Li, Yang Liu, Hua Zhang, Hong Hua
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the association between hyperglycemia and the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia (OLK). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective case-control study involved 133 patients with the malignant transformation of OLK into oral squamous cell carcinoma (case group) and 266 patients with untransformed OLK (control group). The clinical history and follow-up data included age, gender, lesion size and location, and fasting plasma glucose. Logistic regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to assess the effects of risk factors on the malignant transformation of OLK. RESULTS: Hyperglycemia (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 4.7, p = .001), non-homogenous OLK (AHR = 3.0, p < .001), location of the lesion on the ventral surface of the tongue or floor of the mouth (AHR = 3.6, p < .001), and epithelial dysplasia (AHR = 2.8, p = .005) had significant effects on the malignant transformation of OLK. CONCLUSION: Hyperglycemia, non-homogenous OLK, location of the lesion on the ventral surface of the tongue or floor of the mouth, and epithelial dysplasia might be associated with malignant transformation of OLK.