"Non-habit associated oral squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review".
Rezhat Abbas, Aarushi Garg, Aadithya B Urs et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review synthesized 39 studies of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in people without traditional tobacco or alcohol habits, including cohort, case-control, cross-sectional studies, and case reports. Cases were reported at a younger mean age than habit-associated OSCC (45.84 vs. 63.71 years; p = 0.068), with female predominance (p = 0.028); the tongue was the most frequent site. Reported potential associations included microbial and genetic findings, dietary factors, chronic mucosal trauma, immunosuppression, poor oral hygiene, passive smoking, and occupational or environmental heavy-metal exposure. The authors call for higher-quality research to clarify causation.
Key findings
- Mean age was 45.84 years in non-habit-associated cases versus 63.71 years in habit-associated cases (p = 0.068).
- Female predominance was reported (p = 0.028), and the tongue was the most frequent tumour site.
- Potential associations included recurrent genetic mutations, enrichment of Fusobacterium and Porphyromonas, and dietary, immunologic, oral, and environmental factors.
Why it matters
OSCC in people without tobacco or alcohol habits may present with a different demographic and risk-factor profile, so absence of these traditional exposures does not exclude the disease. The review identifies several possible contributors, but these findings do not establish causation. Better-quality studies are needed to clarify mechanisms and inform prevention and earlier recognition.
What to keep in mind
The review included heterogeneous designs, including six case reports, and the authors state that robust, high-quality research is needed to clarify causal mechanisms.