Comparison of salivary carcino embryonic antigen among tobacco users without lesions, oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral cancer, mainly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is a common head and neck malignancy affecting multiple oral sites. This study compared salivary carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels among tobacco users without lesions, patients with oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), and OSCC patients. Thirty subjects were divided into three groups of ten, and unstimulated saliva samples were collected and analyzed using a Can Ag Diagnostics ELISA kit. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v26, with means compared by one-way ANOVA and t-tests. Results showed CEA levels were highest in OSCC, followed by OPMDs and tobacco users, suggesting its role as a non-invasive biomarker for early malignant transformation.