Abstract
Oral cancer, a universal malady, has become a stumbling block over the years due to its significant morbidity and mortality rates. The greater morbidity associated with this deadly disease is attributed to delay in its diagnosis / its presentation in advanced stage. Being multifactorial, Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the outcome of genetic and epigenetic instability. However, in many instances, oral cancer is preceded by precursor lesions named as oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), the early detection of which makes it beneficial for patients with the possible increase in the productive longevity. Many diagnostic tools / aids have been explored with the aim of early detection of oral precancer and cancer. The basic chair-side procedures or relatively advanced aids come with a set of limitations along with subjectivity as one of the setbacks. The advent and exploitation of molecular techniques in the field of health diagnostics, is demanding the molecular typing of the OPMDs and also of oral cancer. The saga of various diagnostic aids for OSCC has witnessed the so-called latest trends such as lab-on-chip, microfluidics, nano diagnostics, liquid biopsy, omics technology and synthetic biology in early detection of oral precancer and cancer. Oral cancer being multifactorial in origin with the chief participation of altered genetics and epigenetics would demand high-end diagnostics for designing personalized therapy. Hence, the present paper highlights the role of various advanced diagnostic aids including ‘omics’ technology and synthetic biology in oral precancer and cancer.
Highlights
In our oral cavity, oral cancer is a life threatening disease (Burkhardt, 1985)
The detection and diagnosis are currently based on clinical examination, histopathological evaluation of the biopsy material and molecular methods
Several diagnostic aids have been developed over the years for early detection of oral cancer
Summary
Oral cancer is a life threatening disease (Burkhardt, 1985). It is a part of group of head and neck cancer which may arise as a primary lesion in any part of the oral cavity or oropharynx by metastasis from a distant site of origin. Lack of awareness in the public of the various signs, symptoms and risk factors for oral cancer are all believed to be responsible for the diagnostic delay in a long venture (Stefano, 2009). They are often difficult to diagnose by routine clinical examination. An early detection of these cancers helps in better and faster treatment for improving the prognosis to some extent and the available advanced diagnostic adjuncts aid as a helpful tool for the early diagnosis of oral cancer to the medical practitioners in treating patients suffering from it. Saliva-based oral cancer diagnostics Molecular Methods DNA Ploidy & Quantification of nuclear DNA content Tumor Markers & Bio Markers PCR-Based diagnostic aids
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