Salivary biomarkers and their efficacies as diagnostic tools for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: More than 90% of malignant tumors of the head and neck are oral squamous cell carcinomas. Early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma using salivary biomarkers could prevent malignant transformations and enhance patient survival. METHODS: A systematic search in MEDLINE and the Central Register of Controlled Trials and meta-analysis were undertaken to identify the screening potential of six salivary biomarkers for early oral squamous cell carcinoma detection: interleukins IL-8 and IL1-beta, DUSP-1 and S100P messenger RNAs, and miR125a and miR200a microRNAs. RESULTS: The sensitivities of IL-8 (0.41; 95%CI 0.19-0.99), IL1-beta (0.26; 95%CI 0.19-0.99), DUSP-1 (0.61; 95%CI 0.01-0.98), and S100P (0.67; 95%CI 0.32-0.99) were calculated. Specificities of the biomarkers analyzed were found to be IL-8 (0.69; 95%CI 0.66-0.99), IL1-beta (0.47; 95%CI 0.46-0.90), DUSP-1 (0.75; 95%CI 0.33-1), and S100P (0.73; 95%CI 0.18-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma was best achieved by screening for salivary messenger RNA DUSP-1 and S100P. Further investigation is required into miRNAs as novel biomarkers.