THE SALIVARY BLUEPRINT OF ORAL CANCER: FROM MOLECULAR CLUES TO CLINICAL APPLICATION

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which is the most prevalent malignancy in the oral cavity, poses a significant health challenge globally due to its high rates of mortality and morbidity. Despite considerable progress in both diagnostic and treatment methods, the survival rates for patients with OSCC have not seen significant improvement over the years. Recent developments in multi-omics technologies have enabled a deeper exploration of salivary components, including DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolites, and extracellular vesicles, which can provide insights into localized tumor behaviour and broader physiological changes in the body. This review summarizes the current evidence related to various types of salivary biomarkers in OSCC, including proteomic, transcriptomic, genomic, epigenetic, metabolomic, and microbial markers. Furthermore, it addresses the clinical implications, challenges, and future potential of saliva-based diagnostics, emphasizing how saliva omics could transform the early detection and continuous monitoring of OSCC.