Salivary protein biomarkers for head and neck cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Saliva has gained attention as an important diagnostic fluid because it contains biomolecules that have the potential to detect early-stage cancer or to monitor the response to treatment in patients. Several saliva-based proteins have been proposed as potential biomarkers for head and neck cancers (HNC).

Areas covered: This review aims to provide an update on saliva-based protein biomarkers for HNC, often studied in observational research and clinical trials.

Expert opinion: Despite the increasing number of studies relating to salivary proteins as biomarkers for HNC, there is no consensus regarding which proteins have the best clinical utility. Most studies have analyzed individual proteins and not a protein panel approach. It must be considered that combining different proteins as a panel can increase the accuracy and will have the potential to change the current clinical practice for HNC patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Saliva
• proteins
• head and neck cancer
• biomarkers
• diagnostic
• prognostic and treatment

Article highlights

• Saliva is emerging as a potential diagnostic fluid in head and neck cancers (HNC).

• Several salivary proteins have been studied in observational research and clinical trials.

• IL-6, IL-8, MMP-9, chemerin, Naa10p, CEA, Cyfra21-1, and angiogenic factor proteins showed the potential as biomarkers for HNC.

• Studies have shown that when using proteins in a panel gives better diagnostic and prognostic utility as opposed to a single protein.

• Future studies should be designed to validate proteins in multi-clinical settings.

Declaration of interest

CP receives funding from The Garnett Passé and Rodney Williams Foundation and Cancer Australia (APP1145657). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript.

Reviewers Disclosure

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Cancer Australia [APP1145657] and The Garnett Passé and Rodney Williams Foundation.