The relationship between cancer and inflammation is a complex but intimate one. Decades of work has shown to us that cancer progression is influenced by a multitude of factors, including genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. We often overlook that cancer progression is also a pathological consequence of a dysregulated inflammatory control in the body. A current emerging topic in cancer research is the role of inflammasomes in carcinogenesis. The inflammasome is a multicomplex protein platform that when activated results in the release of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β. There is increasing evidence suggesting that IL-1β plays a pivotal role in cancer progression. This short review proposes the possibility of using IL-1β as a potential cancer progression biomarker and discusses the use of saliva as a model biological fluid for measuring physiological IL-1β levels in the body.

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Disruption in circadian rhythm affects the production of inflammatory cytokines. Understanding how it behaves in diseased conditions is essential. Despite the role of the interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a potent inflammatory cytokine, in human diseases, little is known about the steady-state circadian rhythm of IL-1β in healthy individuals. This short study investigates the diurnal pattern of salivary IL-1β throughout the day in healthy young adults. Twelve participants provided saliva samples at various times throughout the day. Salivary IL-1β were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis. Salivary IL-1β levels were highest at 0430 h and lowest at 0000 h and shared a similar diurnal pattern to that of salivary IL-6. Western blot analysis showed that these levels correspond to the mature form of IL-1β. Our findings are important as it established the diurnal pattern of salivary IL-1β is fluctuating normally throughout the day. The findings also open an incredible opportunity for developing research conducted in the field with saliva as the diagnostic tool.

Early smoking is considered an indicator for risky behaviour in adolescents. Although social indicators predicting adolescent smoking are known, biological indicators have not been defined. This study aimed to establish whether salivary testosterone could be used as a "predictive biomarker" for smoking-associated peer pressure. Saliva samples were collected from Bruneian adolescents (aged 13-17 years) by the passive drool method. Salivary testosterone concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Salivary testosterone concentration and smoking-associated peer pressure indicators were compared between adolescent males and females and statistical significance was determined by an independent samples t-test. A significant positive relationship between smoking-associated peer pressure and salivary testosterone levels in adolescents was found. However, this relationship was not significant when males and females were considered separately. Our data suggest that students who have tried cigarette smoking and have friends who are cigarette smokers have higher salivary testosterone levels.

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