Saliva as a Biomarker in Oral Cancer

Abstract

The prognosis for patients with oral cancer remains poor in spite of advances in therapy of many other malignancies. Early diagnosis and treatment remains the key to improved patient survival. The tumor markers are playing an increasingly important role in cancer detection and management. These laboratory-based tests are potentially useful in screening for early malignancy, aiding in cancer diagnosis, determining prognosis, surveillance following curative surgery for cancer, up-front predicting drug response or resistance, and monitoring therapy in advanced disease. Diagnostic tests for early detection include brush biopsy, toluidine blue staining, autofluorescence, salivary proteomics, DNA analysis, biomarkers and spectroscopy. This article focuses on biomarkers as valuable utility in risk assessment, clinical screening, diagnosis, and prognosis prediction of oral cancer in the era of precision medicine.