The utilization of saliva as an early diagnostic tool for oral cancer: microRNA as a biomarker

Recently, dentistry presents a preventive philosophy, seeking early diagnoses and minimally traumatic treatments for patients. Cancer is known for its aggressive nature, where its signals and symptoms may only appear in advanced stages of the disease, therefore, reducing the possibility of using atr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inClinical & translational oncology Vol. 22; no. 6; pp. 804 - 812
Main Authors Ghizoni, J. S., Nichele, R., de Oliveira, M. T., Pamato, S., Pereira, J. R.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cham Springer International Publishing 01.06.2020
Subjects
Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics
Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism
Early Diagnosis
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Humans
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
MicroRNAs - genetics
MicroRNAs - metabolism
Mouth Neoplasms - diagnosis
Mouth Neoplasms - genetics
Mouth Neoplasms - metabolism
Mouth Neoplasms - pathology
Oncology
Review Article
Saliva - metabolism
miRNA
Biomarker
Oral cancer
Early diagnostic
Saliva
Cancer
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Summary:Recently, dentistry presents a preventive philosophy, seeking early diagnoses and minimally traumatic treatments for patients. Cancer is known for its aggressive nature, where its signals and symptoms may only appear in advanced stages of the disease, therefore, reducing the possibility of using atraumatic treatment options and patient survival. Saliva has in its composition substances which can be used as biomarkers for disease diagnoses, one of those being microRNA. microRNAs are a group of small RNA molecules with 18–24 nucleotides which have functions such as the degradation of oncogenes transcripted mRNA. The aim of this paper is to explore all theoretical possibilities that microRNA offers as an early diagnostic tool for oral cancer. Studies show that microRNA can be directly linked with cancer gene regulation. Because microRNA is more specific to tissues and diseases than mRNA, it holds the premise of being a feasible, non-invasive, and stable biomarker for early diagnosis of oral cancer. The fact that miRNA can be found in saliva makes it an extremely affordable and feasible option as a biomarker to be used. Since it is linked to regulating functions of cancer genes, it also brings hope that in the near future, it could be used as a reliable biomarker.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
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ISSN:1699-048X
1699-3055
DOI:10.1007/s12094-019-02210-y