Does Candida have a role in oral epithelial neoplasia?

Candida species are responsible for a wide variety of superficial infections of man [59] and the pathogenic role of these yeasts in many conditions has now been defined. There is, however, a great deal of controversy concerning the role of Candida species in the development of epithelial neoplasia. Vaginal and cutaneous candidosis are relatively common but there is little firm clinical or epidemiological evidence to link them to cervical neoplasia or skin carcinoma [59]. The converse is true however for oral candidosis where chronic Candida infection and neoplasia have been strongly linked. The aim of this review is to explore and evaluate the experimental and epidemiological evidence supporting an association between Candida species and oral neoplasia.