Lichen Planus in the mouth

Back in 2010 my dentist thought I had Lichen Planus or Leukoplakia in my mouth because he observed streaky white patches.  I was booked into a local hospital and 'put under' for a surgeon to check for pre-cancerous growth (Leukoplakia). A biopsy was taken where a tiny piece of my cheek was taken. Results were negative for cancer or a pre-cancerous condition and confirmed I had Lichen Planus, which for me has absolutely no symptoms or pain.

Lichen planus affecting lower lip
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lichen_planus_lip.jpg 

There may be some connection between oral lichen planus and cancer of the mouth in perhaps 1% to 3% of patients who have had the condition a long time. The exact connection between oral lichen planus and cancer is not certain, and only a very few patients with oral lichen planus ever have such complications (CGS1).





Links

• CGS1: British Dental Health Foundation FAQ
• http://www.maxillofacialcenter.com/BondBook/mucosa/lichenplanus.html 
• http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070918032931AAkPzDL - difference between Lichen Planus and Leukoplakia?
• http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/trials/a-study-using-aspirin-for-pre-cancerous-white-patches-mouth-ASPOD - a study (ASPOD) by Cancer Research UK on using an aspirin mouthwash to treat pre-cancerous Leukoplakia. 
• http://trialsmap.org/trial/5368 - details of ASPOD trial. RATIONALE: Aspirin mouthwash may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of aspirin mouthwash in treating patients with oral leukoplakia.
• http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01238185?term=NCT01238185&rank=1 Objectives:-
• To determine if oral topical acetylsalicylic acid mouthwash achieves modulation of COX-1, COX-2, and prostaglandin in oral dysplasia tissues in patients with oral leukoplakia. 
• To determine if this drug achieves alteration of histopathology and gene and protein expression in tissue. 
• To determine if this drug achieves aspirin-induced tissue changes relating to altered tumor biology. 
• To assess local and general tolerability and safety of this drug in these patients.
• http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/type/mouth-cancer/treatment/mouth-cancer-research - Drugs to treat pre-cancerous mouth cancer - Aspirin (ASPOD trial) and Celecoxib (COX-2 inhibitor)
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leukoplakia - Leukoplakia
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen_planus  - Lichen Planus