Salivary Markers for Oral Cancer Detection

Abstract

Oral cancer refers to all malignancies that arise in the oral cavity, lips and pharynx, with 90% of all oral cancers being oral squamous cell carcinoma. Despite the recent treatment advances, oral cancer is reported as having one of the highest mortality ratios amongst other malignancies and this can much be attributed to the late diagnosis of the disease. Saliva has long been tested as a valuable tool for drug monitoring and the diagnosis systemic diseases among which oral cancer. The new emerging technologies in molecular biology have enabled the discovery of new molecular markers (DNA, RNA and protein markers) for oral cancer diagnosis and surveillance which are discussed in the current review.

Lactate dehydrogenase as a biomarker in oral cancer and oral submucous fibrosis

“…Biological markers for cancer detection are frequently detected in serum, urine, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, etc. .…”

Salivary Antioxidative Index in Newborns at Risk of Sepsis as Novel Parameter for Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis

“…Saliva has been shown as blood representatives [4] and to have many benefits [16], [17] such as containing antimicrobial compounds and biomarkers of infectious diseases [18], [19], and malignancy [20], [21]. In our study, there were some significant differences between peroxide level, SOD activity, and the SAOI.…”

Enzymatic Biosensors

“…Like DNA, RNA can be assembled from nucleotides using DNA sequence as a template and RNA polymerase. Human mRNAs are present in saliva and can be used as biomarkers of oral cancer (Markopoulos et al, 2010). If proteins are the hardware, RNA is the software controlling how the genes are expressed to make proteins.…”