Biomarkers for oral cancer

Despite recent advances in treatment modalities, the mortality for oral cancer is higher. The main factor responsible for bad prognosis is delay in diagnosis. Identification of biomarkers offers an opportunity for early detection of lesion. Among the various categories of substances that are shed into the body and circulation by the tumor mass,¿2-microglobulin, TSA and LBSA are of considerable interest for their potential diagnostic value. The easy availability of blood further adds to the value of their estimation. The results of the study suggested that the concentrations of ¿2-microglobulin, TSA and LBSA significantly increases in all stages of oral cancer patients and correlates well with the progression of clinical symptoms. These biomarkers have good sensitivity, specificity and efficiency for oral cancer. Therefore, evaluation of these biomarkers, with TSA being cheapest among the three in terms of cost would be of immense help in assessing early malignant change, in increasing the accuracy of clinical diagnosis and also in assessing the spread and invasiveness of oral squamous cell carcinoma. The study is useful to medical and dental students as well as professionals.