SALIVARY BIOMARKERS FOR NON-INVASIVE DETECTION OF ORAL POTENTIALLY MALIGNANT DISORDERS (OPMDS)

Introduction: Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs) are potentially malignant disorders because they may convert into oral cancer. Timely detection of health problems, without surgery, helps patients to recover faster. Salivary biomarkers are popular for testing because they are easy to obtain and cause little discomfort. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of salivary biomarkers for non-invasive detection of OPMDs in patients attending different hospitals in Pakistan. Materials and Method: A prospective case-control study was conducted from March 2024 to August 2024 with 100 participants. Saliva samples were collected and analyzed for biomarkers including IL-6, LDH, and specific microRNAs using ELISA and RT-PCR techniques. Results: Significant elevation of IL-6, LDH, and certain microRNAs was observed in OPMD patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05), demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity for detecting potentially malignant lesions. Conclusion: Salivary biomarkers represent a valuable, non-invasive diagnostic tool for early identification of OPMDs, potentially enabling timely intervention and reducing oral cancer incidence.