Salivary nitrosamine output voltage levels as an early detection of malignancy in the oral cavity

Abstract

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the world's sixth malignant disease with multifactorial causes. Nitrosamine compounds can be found in saliva and used as a biomarker for the early detection of oral cancer. Carcinogenic nitrosamines derived from tobacco use contact with normal oral cavity cells. It affects the process of controlling cell growth by interfering with DNA translation. This study aims to determine and compare the output voltage values of nitrosamines in the saliva of nonsmokers, smokers, and patients with oral cancer in Medan. Methods: This research is a descriptive-analytic study with a cross-sectional approach. The output voltage value of nitrosamines was measured by collecting the saliva of nonsmoking, smoking and cancer patients. Results: using the One-way ANOVA test, the results of this study showed that the output voltage of nitrosamines in the saliva of nonsmoker patients (standard) was 4.46±0.17 Volt, compared to smoker 4.91±0.14 Volt. Whereas, In the saliva of patients with oral cancer 7, 66±0.48 Volt. This study concludes that there was a significant difference in the output voltage level of salivary nitrosamines between the nonsmokers, smokers, and oral cancer patients (p<0.05). Conclusion: salivary nitrosamine levels can be an early detection biomarker of malignancy in the oral cavity.