Salivary and Serum Interleukin-6 Levels in Oral Premalignant Disorders and Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Diagnostic Value and Clinicopathologic Correlations

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 SRM Dental College and Hospitals, Ramapuram, Chennai

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, AECS Maaruti College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore, India

3 Professor Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, SRM Dental College, SRM University, Ramapuram, Tamilnadu, India

4 National Centre for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology (NCNSNT), University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Tamilnadu, India

5 Associate Professor Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, SRM Dental College, SRM University, Ramapuram, Tamilnadu, India

6 Professor and Head Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, SRM Dental College, SRM University, Ramapuram, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

 
Aim: To assess the diagnostic utility of serum and salivary interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in the differential diagnosis of potentially malignant lesions and conditions (PMLs/PMCs) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in a high oral cancer prevalence region. Methods: After appropriate ethical clearance and informed consent, salivary and blood samples were collected from 100 participants in each group (OSCC, PMLs, and healthy controls). Serum and salivary IL-6 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and data were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis. Results: Significant differences in IL-6 concentration were noted between OSCC and PML/C patients in both serum and saliva, with salivary levels being 2 to 3 fold higher than serum values in all the groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated 96% specificity and 99% sensitivity for salivary IL-6 in differentiating PML from OSCC. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-6, is elevated in the saliva of patients with OSSC compared to PMD and controls, and thus may prove to have diagnostic and/or prognostic significance.

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