Oral cancer causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sargun Singh Walia M.B.B.S.[2], Simrat Sarai, M.D. [3]; Grammar Reviewer: Natalie Harpenau, B.S.[4]

Common causes of oral cancers include premalignant lesions, tobacco, alcohol, human papillomavirus, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Tobacco use is the cause of 75% oral cancer cases . It causes an irritation of mucous membrane in the mouth. HPV type 16 is the most common sub-type of human papilloma virus associated with oral cancer.

Common causes of oral cancer include:

• Pre-malignant lesion^[1]
  • Benign and morphologically-altered tissue
  • Pre-malignant lesions are of various types:
    • Leukoplakia – benign white patches
    • Erythroplakia – red patches
    • Erythroleukoplakia – mixed red and white patches
    • Lichen planus
    • Oral sub-mucous fibrosis – very common in Indian sub-continents
    • actinic cheilitis

• Tobacco
  • 75% cases of oral cancers occur due to tobacco use.
  • Use of it causes irritation of the mucous membrane in the mouth.
  • Both smoking and chewing tobacco can lead to irritation of mucous membrane of the mouth.
  • 60 types of carcinogens are known to be present in tobacco smoke.
  • If any form of tobacco use is combined with heavy alcohol intake, the carcinogenic potential increases.

• Alcohol^[2]
  • Heavy alcohol intake can lead to cancer of pharynx and larynx.
  • Carcinogenic potential increases when combined with tobacco use.

• Human Papilloma Virus( HPV)
  • HPV type 16 is the most common sub-type associated with oral cancer.
  • Unprotected oral sexual behaviors with a patient suffering from HPV can transmit this virus.^[3]
  • It most commonly involves the tonsils, which are at the base of the tongue and the oropharynx.

• Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
  • This causes an increased risk for squamous cell carcinoma.

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