Hu CC, Wang SG, Gao Z, Qing MF, Pan S, Liu YY, Li F. Emerging salivary biomarkers for early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma. World J Clin Oncol 2025; 16(4): 103803 [DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v16.i4.103803]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Fang Li, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of General Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, No. 118 Xingguang Avenue, Liangjiang New District, Chongqing 401147, China. leef123456@163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Oncology
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Cheng-Chen Hu, Sheng-Guo Wang, Zhi Gao, Mao-Feng Qing, Shan Pan, Ying-Ying Liu, Department of Stomatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
Fang Li, Department of General Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing 401147, China
Author contributions: Hu CC and Li F contributed to the conceptualization, writing, and editing of this manuscript; Hu CC, Qing MF, Pan S, and Liu YY contributed to the article screening and writing; Wang SG and Gao Z contributed to the literature search. All the authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Fang Li, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of General Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, No. 118 Xingguang Avenue, Liangjiang New District, Chongqing 401147, China. leef123456@163.com
Received: December 2, 2024 Revised: January 23, 2025 Accepted: March 6, 2025 Published online: April 24, 2025 Processing time: 115 Days and 9.4 Hours
Abstract
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.
Core Tip: Salivary biomarkers, such as interleukin-6, interleukin-8, microRNAs, and DNA methylation patterns, have emerged as non-invasive tools for the early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma. This review highlights recent advancements in salivary biomarker research, focusing on their diagnostic potential and the integration of cutting-edge technologies, including mass spectrometry and nanobiosensors. By addressing current challenges like assay standardization and saliva variability, this study underscores the transformative potential of salivary diagnostics in improving early oral squamous cell carcinoma detection and patient outcomes.
