Utility of serum homocysteine in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients as a potential biomarker

Sangeeta Palaskar; Kalpana Joshi; Rutuja Mukkanwar; Rasika Pawar; Gayatri Kulkarni; Saurabhachandra Pawar

doi:10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_268_22

Utility of serum homocysteine in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients as a potential biomarker

J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2022 Jul-Sep;26(3):335-339. doi: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_268_22. Epub 2022 Oct 17.

Authors

Sangeeta Palaskar¹, Kalpana Joshi², Rutuja Mukkanwar¹, Rasika Pawar¹, Gayatri Kulkarni¹, Saurabhachandra Pawar³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sinhgad College of Engineering, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
² Department of Biotechnology, Sinhgad College of Engineering, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
³ Public Health Dentistry, Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India.

Abstract

Background: In India, Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers. Despite advances in treatments, prognosis for oral cancer has remained poor with a five-year survival rate of 40-50%. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective diagnostic methods for early diagnosis and better prognosis. Homocysteine (Hcy) has been reported as a 'tumour marker' in various cancers such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer.

Aim: To study the levels of serum Hcy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients.

Objectives: To assess the clinical utility of serum Hcy as a potential tumour marker for OSCC cases.

Methodology: Serum Hcy levels were studied and compared between patients with OSCC and healthy individuals.

Results: Serum Hcy levels were higher in patients having OSCC.

Conclusion: Serum Hcy levels could be utilized as a biological marker in the diagnosis and the prognosis of OSCC patients.

Keywords: Homocystein; OSCC; oral squamous cell carcinoma; prognosis.