Vol 21 No. 1

J Bagh College Dentistry Vol. 21(1), 2009 Serum and salivary levels…
Serum and salivary levels of proinflammatory cytokines as
potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of oral squamous cell
carcinoma
Nazar G. Al Talabani B.D.S,Ph.D (1) .
Shanaz M. Gaphor B.D.S., M.Sc, Ph.D (2) .
Abdul-Wahab R. Hamad B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D (3) .
ABSTRACT
Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma is one of the prevalent cancers of the body . If not treated at its early
stages, the prognosis will be poor. Early diagnosis of oral cancer may not be easy clinically because of its
resemblance to a number of benign lesions in the mouth. The aim of the study was to evaluate the validity of
measurement of some proinflammatory cytokines levels in serum and saliva as biomarkers for early detection of oral
cancer.
Materials and methods: The levels of Interleukins IL-1α, IIL-6, IL-8 and Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony Stimulating
Factor (GM-CSF) in the serum and saliva of (30) patients with OSCC and (20) healthy (control) individuals were
measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: Higher concentrations of serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels were observed in patients with OSCC than the control
group (P