Ratio of Salivary Sialic Acid to Fucose as Tumor Markers in Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Cancer.

BACKGROUND

Lack of noninvasive and economically feasible laboratory investigations in the early detection of cancer is a set-back in the prognosis of oral cancer (OC) patients.

AIMS

The aim of the study was to evaluate the ratio of sialic acid to fucose in salivary samples of OC and oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 60 participants were selected and divided into three groups based on clinical and histopathological diagnosis: OC patients ( = 20), OPMD patients ( = 20), and healthy patients ( = 20). Unstimulated whole saliva of 1.5 ml was collected from the selected individuals for evaluating the salivary levels of sialic acid and fucose using the biochemical assay.

RESULTS

The difference in mean salivary sialic acid and fucose among the study groups was statistically significant ( = 0.001); one-way analysis of variance. The mean sialic acid to fucose ratio in the control group, OPMD group, and OC group were 0.34 mg/dl, 0.88 mg/dl, and 0.89 mg/dl, respectively. OC patients had significant elevation in the levels of salivary sialic acid, fucose, and their ratios ( = 0.001, = 0.001, = 0.003, respectivel; Tukey's test.

CONCLUSIONS

The ratio of salivary sialic acid to fucose is a predictable tumor marker for the diagnosis of OC. Further investigations are required to evaluate the influence of OC grading on this diagnostic marker.