# Comparative levels of salivary oxidative stress markers in oral precancer and oral cancer patients

## TL;DR

This study compares oxidative stress markers in saliva from healthy individuals, oral precancer patients, and oral cancer patients to explore non-invasive diagnostic potential.

## Contribution

The study introduces a non-invasive method using salivary oxidative stress markers for early oral cancer diagnosis and risk assessment.

## Key findings

- Salivary MDA levels were significantly higher in oral cancer patients compared to controls and precancer patients.
- Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx) were significantly reduced in cancer patients.
- Oxidative stress markers showed progressive worsening with disease progression.

## Abstract

Oxidative stress is a major factor in oral carcinogenesis, but a comparative comparison of salivary biomarkers in different stages of
disease development has not been fully described. This case-control study compared the levels of salivary oxidative stress in 180
participants (n= 60 healthy controls, n=60 oral precancer and n=60 oral cancer). The malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD),
catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in saliva were measured by spectrophotometric and enzyme
assays. The outcome showed greatly high levels of MDA and exhausted antioxidant enzyme activities in patients with cancer in comparison to
the precancer and control conditions (p<0.001) and there was progressive worsening in relation to the progress of disease. Thus, we show
the possible application of salivary oxidative stress measurements to be used as a non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic method of oral
cancer to aid in the early diagnosis and risk stratification of susceptible groups.