The Concentration Levels of ATP in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Tissues and Risk Habits Involved: An Experimental Study

• Emmanuel Mendoza

  Research Institute of Dentistry, Comprehensive Dental Clinics Department, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico

• José Roberto Prieto Correa

  Research Institute in Chronic Degenerative Diseases, Division of Basic Disciplines, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico

• José Alfonso Cruz Ramos

  Research Coordination of Jalisciense Institute of Cancerology. Zapopan, Jal; C. Puerto Guaymas 418, Miramar

• Paola Monserrat Zepeda Olmos

  Research Coordination of Jalisciense Institute of Cancerology. Zapopan, Jal; C. Puerto Guaymas 418, Miramar

• Juan José Soto Ávila

  Service of Head and Neck Oncology Surgery; Jalisciense Institute of Cancerology. Zapopan Jal; C. Puerto Guaymas 418, Miramar

• Sandra López Verdín

  Research Institute of Dentistry, Comprehensive Dental Clinics Department, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico

Introduction: Oral cancer is a malignant neoplasm due to the carcinogenesis process. In this, tumor cells show a deregulation and reprogramming of cellular energy metabolism because production and proliferation of biomass is necessary. Adenosine 5-triphosphate (ATP) represents the currency of energy exchange, an extracellular key signaling molecule to mediate multiple cellular responses. Most metabolic energy originates from oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions in mitochondria, and this organelle could be affected by some of the known risk factors of developing oral cancer such as the intake of alcohol and tobacco. Therefore, ATP is proposed as a prognostic malignant transformation marker and predictive in the progress of cancer.

Methodology: Fifteen tissues from oral normal gingiva (controls) and fifteen from oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) were collected. Risk habits were taken and recorded as presence or absence. OSCC clinical stages were taken from medical history, and these were evaluated according to AJCC. ATP was quantified with a luminescence-based (luciferin–luciferase) detection assay. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, numerical variables as medians. The Mann-Whitney U non-parametric test was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Control group had the highest frequency of not consuming tobacco (n=11, 73.3%). OSCC groups showed a higher frequency of tumor with no invasion of close anatomic sites (<4cm) (n=9, 60%), no clear predilection between presence (n=8, 53.3%) and absence (n=7, 46.7%) of lymph node invasion and despite only one patient reported distant metastases, the more prevalent recorded clinical staging was the advanced stage (n=9, 60%). Smoking cigarettes showed significant influence (p <0.01) to generate higher levels of ATP (median 1.4 µM/µL) compared to non-smokers (median= 0.5 µM/µL), contrary to the group of OSCC cases. ATP concentration was significantly (p<0.001) higher in the case group (median= 1.6 µM/µL) than the control group (median= 0.9 µM/µL). The results involving the aggressiveness of the disease did not show statistical difference.

Conclusions: According to this study, in non-malignant oral tissue ATP levels could be influenced by tobacco smoke but apparently this is not applied to OSCC and independently of risk habits ATP levels could be more concentrated in oral malignant tissues increasing the levels of ATP.

1. Emmanuel Mendoza, Research Institute of Dentistry, Comprehensive Dental Clinics Department, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico

   Doctor at the Research Institute of Dentistry, Comprehensive Dental Clinics Department, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara

2. José Roberto Prieto Correa , Research Institute in Chronic Degenerative Diseases, Division of Basic Disciplines, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico

   PdH at Research Institute in Chronic Degenerative Diseases, Division of Basic Disciplines, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara

3. José Alfonso Cruz Ramos , Research Coordination of Jalisciense Institute of Cancerology. Zapopan, Jal; C. Puerto Guaymas 418, Miramar

   Head of the Research Coordination of Jalisciense Institute of Cancerology Zapopan Jalisco 

4. Paola Monserrat Zepeda Olmos , Research Coordination of Jalisciense Institute of Cancerology. Zapopan, Jal; C. Puerto Guaymas 418, Miramar

   PhD at Research Coordination of Jalisciense Institute of Cancerology Zapopan, Jalisco

5. Juan José Soto Ávila , Service of Head and Neck Oncology Surgery; Jalisciense Institute of Cancerology. Zapopan Jal; C. Puerto Guaymas 418, Miramar

   Head of Service of Head and Neck Oncology Surgery; Jalisciense Institute of Cancerology Zapopan Jalisco  

6. Sandra López Verdín , Research Institute of Dentistry, Comprehensive Dental Clinics Department, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico

   PhD at the Research Institute of Dentistry, Comprehensive Dental Clinics Department, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara

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Copyright (c) 2026 Emmanuel Mendoza, José Roberto Prieto Correa , José Alfonso Cruz Ramos , Paola Monserrat Zepeda Olmos , Juan José Soto Ávila , Sandra López Verdín

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