muramidase and Oropharyngeal-Neoplasms

The pH and lysozyme content of the salivas of 34 patients receiving radiotherapy of the upper respiratory digestive tracts for the treatment of cancer were compared to those of 22 healthy subjects matched for age and gender. After irradiation the salivas of the treated patients had a lower mean pH (p less than 0.001). During radiotherapy no statistically significant changes occurred in the pH or lysozyme rate, but at the beginning of treatment there was an inverse correlation (p less than 0.05) between the increased lysozyme content and the lowered pH. The mean salivary pH and lysozyme rate of 12 patients (35%) initially treated by chemotherapy showed no significant differences from controls. However, the saliva of 21 dentate patients had a mean pH and lysozyme content considerably higher (p less than 0.01) than that of patients without teeth. During radiotherapy there was a statistically significant inverse relationship between the pH of the salivas of the dentate and edentulous groups.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents; Dentition; Dentures; Female; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; Saliva

Function and morphology of the major salivary glands were investigated in patients suffering from carcinomas of the oral cavity, the oropharynx and the hypopharynx. In comparison to the results obtained from healthy control subjects, the tumour patients showed significantly decreased flow-rates of parotid and submandibular saliva. Furthermore the excretion of IgA, lysozyme and total protein and the pH-value in both, the parotid and the submandibular saliva of the patients was significantly lowered. The histological feature of the salivary glands of the patients was characterized by interstitial deposition of fat. In several cases a swelling and a degranulation of the acinar cells was observed additionally. Other patients showed an atrophy of the acinar cells. Sometimes an inflammatory reaction could also be noted in the submandibular and/or the parotid glands of patients suffering from head and neck cancer. The decreased salivary gland function reflects a reduction of the protective mechanisms of the oral cavity and the pharynx. Additionally it enables an increased penetration of environmental carcinogens through the mucous surface, and therefore has to be discussed as a factor for the etiology of carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Topics: Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms; Muramidase; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; Parotid Gland; Pharyngeal Neoplasms; Saliva; Salivary Glands; Secretory Rate; Submandibular Gland