Markers of metastasis in lip cancer.

The incidence of lip cancer in Granada, Spain, is much higher than that recorded in other countries. The natural history of the disease generally includes induction on previous actinic lesions, promotion with local growth of the tumour, and the appearance of metastasis in regional lymph node chains and, exceptionally, via the blood stream. In order to determine the risk factors for metastases, a retrospective hospital-based study was conducted of 251 cases of lower lip cancer diagnosed and treated during a 10-year period from 1985 to 1995. All patients studied had a minimum follow-up of five years. Among the metastasis risk factors considered, only localization in commissure showed statistical significance (p < 0.001).