Hu Cheng-Chen, Wang Sheng-Guo, Gao Zhi, Qing Mao-Feng, Pan Shan, Liu Ying-Ying, Li Fang
Department of Stomatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China.
Department of General Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing 401147, China.
World J Clin Oncol. 2025 Apr 24;16(4):103803. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v16.i4.103803.
Oral cancer, particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality, with delayed diagnosis being a major contributing factor. Although salivary biomarkers have been explored for over three decades, the need for reliable, non-invasive diagnostic methods that enable early detection and continuous monitoring of OSCC remains unmet. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the latest advancements in salivary biomarker research, focusing on emerging biomarkers such as interleukin-6, interleukin-8, microRNAs and DNA methylation patterns, as well as metabolites and microbiota, all of which show significant promise for early OSCC detection. In addition to discussing well-established biomarkers, we explore recent technological developments that increase the sensitivity and specificity of these biomarkers, such as mass spectrometry, multiplex assays, and nanobiosensors. These developments are complemented by the integration of artificial intelligence for data analysis, which enables more accurate, point-of-care diagnostics that could revolutionize oral cancer screening. This review not only consolidates current knowledge but also addresses the challenges that hinder the widespread clinical adoption of salivary diagnostics, such as saliva variability and assay standardization. By overcoming these barriers, salivary biomarker-based diagnostics have the potential to transform OSCC detection, offering a non-invasive, cost-effective solution that can improve early diagnosis and patient outcomes.
口腔癌，尤其是口腔鳞状细胞癌（OSCC），仍然是癌症相关发病和死亡的主要原因，诊断延迟是一个主要促成因素。尽管唾液生物标志物的研究已开展了三十多年，但对于能够实现OSCC早期检测和持续监测的可靠、非侵入性诊断方法的需求仍未得到满足。本综述旨在提供唾液生物标志物研究最新进展的更新概述，重点关注白细胞介素-6、白细胞介素-8、微小RNA和DNA甲基化模式等新兴生物标志物，以及代谢物和微生物群，所有这些在OSCC早期检测方面都显示出巨大潜力。除了讨论已确立的生物标志物外，我们还探讨了提高这些生物标志物敏感性和特异性的最新技术发展，如质谱分析、多重检测和纳米生物传感器。人工智能集成用于数据分析对这些发展起到了补充作用，实现了更准确的即时诊断，可能会彻底改变口腔癌筛查。本综述不仅巩固了当前知识，还解决了阻碍唾液诊断在临床广泛应用的挑战，如唾液变异性和检测标准化。通过克服这些障碍，基于唾液生物标志物的诊断有可能改变OSCC检测方式，提供一种非侵入性、经济高效的解决方案，可改善早期诊断和患者预后。
