Salivary expression of interleukin-6 in oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma patients

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a common malignant tumor occurring with increasing frequency among individuals. The survival rate of oral cancer is 60-80% if detected during its early stages; however this number drops to 30-40% when the cancer is diagnosed during advanced stages. Direct contact between saliva and the oral lesion makes measurement of tumor markers in saliva an attractive, non-invasive, chair-side diagnostic/prognostic aid and alternative to serum testing. The connection between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis is well known and it is believed that cytokines and mediators of inflammation has role in suppression of apoptosis and tumor progression. Aim of the present study is to evaluate the change in levels of Interleukin-6 in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma patients and to develop a possible prognostic marker. To evaluate the reliability of salivary IL-6 as diagnostic/ prognostic marker in potentially malignant oral disorders (OPMD). And to develop a cost-effective chair side salivary prognostic marker of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Material and method: The salivary level of Interleukin-6 in (n=25) patients in each group of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma patients and (n=25) healthy individuals (n=25) of control groups was measured using ELISA. Result: Salivary IL-6 was detected at higher concentration in patients with OSCC and OPMD as compared to control group (P<0.001). Conclusion: From the results of present study, it can be concluded that IL-6 is an important proinflammatory cytokine, detectable at higher concentration in saliva of patients of OPMD and OSCC and prove to be useful as biomarker for diagnosis and predicting malignant transformation.