ABSTRACT
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 (n = 20), OPMD patients (n = 20), and healthy patients (n = 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 (P = 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 (P = 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.003, respectively); Tukey's post hoc 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.