Saliva – A biomarker for oral cancer

Oral cancer has emerged as an alarming public health problem with increasing incidence and mortality rates all over the world. The implementation of newer screening and early detection approaches are of utmost importance which could reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. Sensitive and specific biomarkers for oral cancer are likely to be most effective for screening, diagnosis, and staging and follow-up for this dreaded and lethal malignancy. Direct contact between saliva and the oral cancer lesion makes measurement of tumour markers in saliva a viable alternative to serum testing. Recent research has revealed that a large panel of human RNA, DNA and protein molecules derived from the malignant cells can be obtained from saliva. Thus, saliva being non invasive, accessible, and protective can be used as an efficient diagnostic medium.