Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences (Jan 2013)

Field cancerization: A review

  • M Aparna,
  • Prashanth Shenai,
  • Laxmikanth Chatra,
  • K M Veena,
  • Prasanna Kumar Rao,
  • Rachana V Prabhu,
  • K A Shahin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/2321-4848.123026
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 2
pp. 136 – 139

Abstract

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Concept of field cancerization was first introduced over six decades ago in the setting of oral cancer. Later, field cancerization involving histologic and molecular changes of neoplasms and adjacent tissue was explained. Field cancerization involves the lateral spread of pre-malignant or malignant disease and contributes to the recurrence of head and neck tumors. The overall hypothesis underlying this work is that endothelial cells actively participate in tumor cell invasion by secreting chemokines and creating a chemotactic gradient for tumor cells. The article tries to explain the conflicting aspects of field cancerization in the setting of oral cancer.

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