Comparison in Total Sialic acid levels between control and cancer patients visiting Teaching hospital, as a basis for oral cancer diagnosis

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasm in the head and neck region and remains one of the major causes of worldwide deaths. Recognition and diagnosis of oral cancer at an early stage can reduce morbidity and mortality. Oral cancer screening in a large population can be done non-invasively by using sialic acid in saliva as a biological marker. The aim of this study was to estimate the total sialic acid (TSA) level in three categories of populations: normal healthy controls, tobacco users with a premalignant lesion like leukoplakia, and tobacco users who developed oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods: A total of 45 subjects were involved in the study. Saliva was collected from three groups and total sialic acid was estimated. The data obtained was analyzed statistically using ANOVA and Tukey HSD test. Results: A comparison of total salivary sialic acid levels in three groups revealed a significant rise in the level of TSA in OSCC group when compared to control group. The difference in the mean level of TSA of precancerous group was also significant when compared to control group. Conclusion: The present study showed a significant rise in the mean level of total salivary sialic acid from control group (51.57 mg%) to precancerous group (74.64 mg%) to OSCC group (104.30 mg%), and suggests that it can be used as a reliable tool in oral cancer screening as the technique is non-invasive and inexpensive.