Efficacy of Glucose Starvation of Cancer Cells in the Progress of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Induced in Hamster

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of oral cancer, showing poor prognosis and high mortality. Meanwhile, cancer metabolism is an essential contributor to its progression and response to treatment. This research aims to investigating the effect of a glucose-rich and glucose-free diet on the progress of oral squamous cell carcinoma induced in hamsters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: forty Syrian Hamsters were incubated in two groups. The first one consisted of twenty hamsters, in which the carcinogenic material (DMBA) was applied in the buccal pouch of the hamster three days per week with a glucose-rich diet). The second one was composed of twenty hamsters, in which the carcinogenic material (DMBA) was applied in the buccal pouch three days per week with a glucose-free diet). Hamsters in both groups were sacrificed in groups of five hamsters at a time and at intervals (two weeks, six weeks, ten weeks, and Fourteen weeks). A histological study was performed after conventional staining with hematoxylin and eosin was done. RESULTS: After two weeks of the experiment hyperplasia, mild dysplasia, and moderate dysplasia were recorded in hamster buccal pockets with a glucose-rich diet, and after six weeks moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia, and carcinomas in situ were recorded, after ten weeks severe dysplasia, carcinomas in situ, and OSCC, after fourteen weeks OSCC were recorded. While with a glucose-free diet Hyperkeratosis, hyperplasia, and mild dysplasia were observed after a two-week the experiment, after six weeks, mild dysplasia, moderate dysplasia, and severe dysplasia were recorded, after ten weeks, moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia, and carcinoma in situ, after fourteen weeks Severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and OSCC were reported. CONCLUSION: our results showed that a glucose-free diet slightly prevents oral squamous cell carcinoma, It may be a supportive treatment in addition to conventional cancer treatment.