Evaluation of salivary endothelin-1 as a biomarker for oral cancer and precancer.

Context: Oral cancer is highly prevalent in India. Lack of awareness and delay in diagnosis and treatment of patients with oral cancer leads to high mortality and poor survival of patients. Salivary endothelin-1 is proposed as a prospective biomarker for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Aims: Aim of the study was to evaluate salivary level of endothelin-1 in oral cancer and precancer as a biomarker.

Settings and design: We planned a case control study to evaluate salivary level of Endothelin-1 in oral cancer and precancer as a biomarker.

Materials and methods: A total of 72 subjects were taken in study out of which 24 cases were of histopathologically confirmed premalignat oral lesion (oral leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis), 24 cases were of histopathologically confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma, and 24 cases of healthy age and gender matched controls without any addiction to tobacco in any form from a tertiary care hospital were taken. Saliva was collected from all following standard guidelines and estimation of salivary endothelin-1 was done by ELISA.

Statistical analysis used: SPSS software version 15.

Results: Salivary endothelin-1 values of controls ranged between 0.09 and 1.88 pg/ml while that of premalignant cases ranged between 1.16 and 16.135 pg/ml and of SCC cases ranged between 2.567 and 22.98 pg/ml.

Conclusions: Salivary endothelin-1 is raised in oral squamous cell carcinoma compared to premalignant and controls therefore, shows capability to differentiate between premalignant lesion and oral cancer. So, it could be used as a biomarker for early diagnosis.