Malformações congênitas e o câncer podem compartilhar fatores etiológicos comuns e a associação entre fissura labial e/ou palatina não sindrômica (FL/PNS) com o câncer tem sido observada em diferentes estudos. O objetivo foi avaliar a frequência de câncer em parentes de pacientes com FL/PNS. Conduziu-se um estudo transversal, do tipo caso-controle, avaliando 358 pacientes com FL/PNS, assistidos em um centro de referência para tratamento de deformidades craniofaciais (grupo caso) e 358 pacientes sem alterações congênitas (grupo controle). Foram obtidas informações a respeito de gênero, idade e histórico familiar de câncer em parentes de primeiro grau para ambos os grupos. A frequência de câncer na população estudada foi de 6,4% (n=46), com 18 históricos no grupo caso (5%) e 28 (7,8%) no grupo controle. Em ambos os grupos, os principais cânceres relatados foram de mama, colorretal, estômago, próstata e útero, mas não houve associação quando comparados os dois grupos. Também não houve associação de histórico familiar de câncer em parentes de primeiro grau (odds ratio=0,62; 95% IC: 0,34 a 1,15), nem quando a análise foi feita pelo tipo de câncer. Estudos epidemiológicos e genéticos têm sugerido fatores etiológicos comuns entre FL/PNS e câncer. Contudo, na população do presente estudo, não se verificou a associação entre câncer e FL/PNS.

Congenital malformations and cancer may share common etiological factors and the association between nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCL/P) and cancers has been observed in different studies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of cancer in relatives of patients with NSCL/P. This investigation was a cross-sectional, case-controlled study, evaluating 358 patients with NSCL/P treated at a Referral Center for craniofacial deformities (case group) and 358 patients without craniofacial alterations (control group). Information concerning the gender, age and family history of cancer in first-degree relatives for both groups was obtained. The frequency of cancer was 6.4% (n=46) in the studied population, with 18 subjects in the case group (5%) and 28 (7.8%) in control. In both groups, the most frequently reported cases were those of breast, colorectal, stomach, prostate and uterus cancers, but there was no association between the two groups. There was no association with a family history of cancer among the first-degree relatives (odds ratio=0.62; 95% IC: 0.34 to 1.15), neither when the analysis was made by type of cancer. In conclusion, both epidemiological and genetic studies have suggested common etiological factors for NSCL/P and cancer. However, in this population-based study, no association between cancer and NSCL/P could be confirmed.

CONTEXTO: O complexo esclerose tuberosa é uma doença genética pertencente ao grupo das facomatoses, de herança autossômica dominante, caracterizada por lesões acometendo pele e anexos, além de tumores do sistema nervoso central e periférico, com presença de achados neurólogicos e psiquiátricos, podendo acometer coração, rins, olhos, dentes, mucosa oral e outros órgãos. RELATO DE CASO: Apresentamos o caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, 66 anos de idade, que apresentava diversos sinais dermatol ógicos, como máculas hipopigmentadas, lesões em confete, placas tipo shagreen, angiofibromas nas regiões cervical, nasolabial e dorsal, distrofias ungueais e fibromas nos dedos das mãos e pés. Embora o encefalograma não tenha mostrado alterações, a ressonância nuclear magnética apresentou imagem nodular com aspecto semelhante ao parênquima cerebral, medindo 1.2 x 1.0 cm e próxima ao forame de Monro, compatível com astrocitoma subependimário de células gigantes. Abordagem conservadora foi escolhida por meio de controle imaginológico da lesão por sete anos, com ausência de sintomas neurológicos ou processos expansivos. A ultrassonografia de abdômen total revelou massa medindo 4.6 x 3.4 cm, com áreas ecogênicas e heterogêneas, apresentando focos de calcificação no rim direito, com padrão semelhante ao de um angiomiolipoma. O paciente foi submetido a nefrectomia total, devido à presença de áreas de malignidade ao exame histopatológico, e evoluiu para óbito um mês após o procedimento. Este relato de caso ilustra a importância de achados clínicos orais, tais como lesões no esmalte dentário e angiofibromas, para o diagnóstico precoce dessa doença e posterior rastreamento, tratamento e aconselhamento genético.

CONTEXT: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disease in the group known as neurocutaneous syndromes, with dominant autosomal inheritance. It is characterized by skin and adnexal lesions and central and peripheral nervous system tumors, with neurological and psychiatric findings. It may affect the heart, kidneys, eyes, face, bones, lungs, stomach and dentition. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 66-year-old man with dermatological signs that included hypopigmented maculae, confetti-like lesions, shagreen plaque, angiofibromas on nasolabial folds, neck and back, nail dystrophy and periungual fibromas on fingers and toes. An electroencephalogram produced normal results, but magnetic resonance imaging showed a nodular image measuring 1.2 x 1.0 cm close to the Monro foramen, which was similar to cerebral parenchyma and compatible with a subependymal giant-cell astrocytoma. A conservative approach was taken, through control imaging examinations on the lesion for seven years, with absence of any expansive process or neurological symptoms. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a solid, heterogenic and echogenic mass with a calcified focus, measuring 4.6 x 3.4 cm, in the rightkidney, compatible with angiomyolipoma. The patient was treated by means of complete nephrectomy because of malignant areas seen on histopathological examination and died one month after the procedure. This case report illustrates the importance of oral clinical findings such as dental enamel pits and angiofibromas in making an early diagnosis of TSC, with subsequent screening examinations, treatment and genetic counseling.

Cyclosporin A (CyA) induces gingival overgrowth via its stimulatory effects on expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) and collagen. It is not known whether CyA has a direct effect on gingival fibroblasts or induces its effect indirectly via stimulation of myofibroblast transdifferentiation. The present study was undertaken to examine the in vivo and in vitro effect of CyA on myofibroblast transdifferentiation. Rats were treated for 60 days with a daily subcutaneous injection of CyA, and the gingival overgrowth tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In vitro, fibroblasts from normal gingiva (NG) were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of CyA, and subjected to semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and western blot. Although CyA treatment stimulated TGF-β1 expression by NG fibroblasts, it lacked to induce expression and production of isoform α of smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), the specific myofibroblast marker. The expression levels of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which has been considered a key molecule to promote the transdifferentiation of myofibroblasts via TGF-β1 activation, were unaffected by CyA. Our results demonstrate that CyA-induced gingival overgrowth is not associated with activation of myofibroblast transdifferentiation, since CyA is not capable to increase CTGF expression.