RATIONALE: Gathering information about allergies to metals may help doctors learn whether having an allergy to metal used in dental work increases the risk of developing oral cancer.

PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying contact allergies to dental metal as a possible risk factor for oral cancer.

OBJECTIVES:

• Identify the relationship between intraoral metal contact allergy and epithelial carcinogenesis in patients with newly or previously diagnosed intraoral squamous cell carcinoma.
• Compare the prevalence of metal contact allergy in these patients with control data from other existing study populations.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

• Participants undergo metal patch testing using 27 metals* commonly used in dental repairs that are part of the Mayo metal series. Metal patches are applied to the patient's back for 3 days and the back is read on days 3 and 5. Relevant patient data obtained from their medical and dental history, physical exam, laboratory values and treatment are documented.

NOTE: *Healthy volunteers (control) undergo metal patch testing using 8 metals most commonly positive for contact allergens.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Meets 1 of the following criteria:

  • Newly or previously diagnosed oral squamous cell carcinoma

    • Recruited from the otorhinolaryngology departments of Mayo Clinic Rochester and Mayo Clinic Arizona

  • Healthy volunteer (control)

    • No history of intraoral squamous cell carcinoma
    • Employed at Mayo Clinic Rochester or Mayo Clinic Arizona

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• No immunosuppression
• No other conditions that interfere with patch testing

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Not specified

otorhinolaryngology departments of Mayo Clinic Rochester and Mayo Clinic Arizona