Real time PCR based mitochondrial DNA copy number determination in oral cancer.

<p>(A) Quantitative PCR of D-loop region and <i>GAPDH</i> gene (representative curve). D-loop region and <i>GAPDH</i> are ubiquitous genes found in the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, respectively. Using quantitative PCR in samples from the patient and control, the relative mitochondrial content was calculated. (B) Distribution of mtDNA copy number in OSCC and controls. (C) Mitochondrial content decreases with increase in tumour stage: the various stages of OSCC samples from stage 0 to stage IVB with respect to log 2 RQ (log fold change).