Salivary Markers in Relation to Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Smokeless Tobacco Users: A Literature Review

Abstract

Context: Nicotine and carcinogens are present in smokeless tobacco products. Oral, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers have been seen in Smokeless tobacco users. This article aims at reviewing the available literature and summarizing the application of salivary markers in smokeless tobacco users and their association with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Evidence Acquisition: The terms “saliva or salivary”, “markers or biomarkers”, “smokeless tobacco or Chewing tobacco or snuff”, and “oral cancer or oral carcinoma or oral squamous cell carcinoma” were searched in PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Google databases. Original and review English-written articles published over the past 20 years were reviewed, and the appropriate papers were chosen and intently studied. A data form designed by the author was used to write the proper results. Results: Our initial search identified 135 articles, 35 of which met the criteria for entering the final study and were contained for review. In summary, these studies described 20 markers found in the saliva of smokeless tobacco users linked to oral cancer. Conclusions: In this review study, some salivary markers such as cytokines, immunoglobulins, antioxidants, etc. were reviewed. In this review, it was shown that similar changes in these markers occur in patients with cancer and smokeless tobacco users. With the development of these diagnostic markers, these may be used as a screening tool for the early detection of cancer in smokeless tobacco users.