DOI: 10.4103/jiaomr.jiaomr_74_26 ISSN: 0972-1363

Comparison of Serum and Salivary Cancer Antigen 125 Levels as Prognostic Biomarker in Patients with Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Cross-Sectional Study

Akansha Budakoti, Upasana Sethi Ahuja, Deepankar Misra, Rupali Pandey, Arjit Vihan, Priyanka Khanna
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Background:

Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125), a glycoprotein commonly detected at increased levels in a variety of tumors, has shown potential as a biomarker for a variety of malignancies.

Objective:

To determine the potential of CA-125 as a prognostic marker by comparing and contrasting its serum and salivary concentrations among patients with oral leukoplakia (OL), oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and healthy individuals.

Methods:

Eighty participants were categorized into four groups ( n = 20 each): OL, OSMF, OSCC, and healthy controls. Unstimulated saliva and venous blood were obtained. CA-125 concentrations were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Statistical evaluations were conducted employing analysis of variance, post hoc , Pearson’s correlation, and Chi-square tests to investigate differences between the groups.

Results:

The OSCC group had considerably higher mean serum and salivary levels of CA-125 than the other groups ( P < 0.001). Serum and salivary CA-125 levels showed a strong positive correlation in all groups (OL: r = 0.51; OSMF: r = 0.79; OSCC: r = 0.69; controls: r = 0.85; all P < 0.05), suggesting that salivary CA-125 is a good indicator of systemic levels.

Conclusion:

Serum and salivary CA-125 levels increased from oral potentially malignant disorders to OSCC, respectively, suggesting salivary testing could serve as a noninvasive prognostic tool for early oral cancer detection.

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