Role of catecholamine levels and quality-of-life domains in patients with oral neoplasms

Background: Oral cancer has a profound impact on quality of life, but the relationship between quality of life and tumorigenesis, catecholamine levels, and disease stage in oral cancer patients is not well understood. Methods: Pre-surgical quality of life was determined using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) health-related quality of life questionnaire in 75 oral neoplasm patients, including 40 oral carcinoma patients and 35 benign oral tumor patients. The plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations were assessed using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry, and data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. Results: There were significant differences in pain, general health, and mental health SF-36 subscores between the oral carcinoma and benign oral tumor groups. Multivariate logistic regression models showed that the SF-36 scores in the oral carcinoma group were significantly lower than those in the benign oral tumor group. Conclusions: These findings show that general health is affected in oral neoplasm patients and stress hormones can affect quality of life in oral carcinoma patients; furthermore, plasma catecholamines and mental health contribute to the progression of oral carcinoma.