Salivary diagnostics in oral cancer

Abstract

Oral cancer carcinogenesis is a complex process that outlines the implication of multiple mechanisms that lead to the development of this specific malignancy. The high heterogeneity of this disease is a key factor that controls the progression and treatment response, influencing the survival rate. The multifactorial etiology, the genetic alterations and the diagnosis in advanced stages are directly involved in the high mortality rate of this pathology. Currently, the gold standard for oral cancer diagnosis is represented by the tissue biopsy and its histopathological examination, procedure that in time revealed several disadvantages. Recent research focused on a non-invasive, fast and reliable diagnosis approach based on the use of saliva. Saliva through its components provides information regarding specific salivary molecules, proteomic and genomic changes linked to oral cancer occurrence and progression. By using saliva as a diagnosis tool, it offers an important perspective of the tumor environment, designing a complete molecular profile of the tumor by creating the concept of personalized medicine.