title: Salivary analytes in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Literature data indicates that measurement of certain salivary constituents might serve as a useful diagnostic/prognostic tool in the patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In 24 patients with OSCC (60 +/- 2.5 yrs) and in 24 controls (24 +/- 3.7 yrs) we have determined levels of salivary magnesium, calcium, copper, chloride, phosphate, potassium, sodium, total proteins and amylase. Sodium, potassium and chloride were determined by indirect potentiometry whereas copper, magnesium and phosphate were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Total proteins were determined by pyrogalol colorimetric method. Amylase levels were determined by continued colorimetric method. Statistical analysis was performed by use of chi2 test and Spearman's correlation test. The results of this study indicate that the concentrations of sodium and chloride were significantly elevated in patients with OSCC when compared to the controls. However, level of total protein was significantly decreased when compared to the healthy controls. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between alcohol consumption and total protein concentration in patients with oral carcinoma. We might conclude that in patients with OSCC increased salivary sodium and chloride might reflect their overall dehydration status due to alcohol consumption rather than consequence of OSCC itself.
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb, School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Petra Nola
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Dunja
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rogić
authors.forename: Danica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vidović-Juras
authors.forename: Mato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Susić
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milenović
authors.forename: Vlaho
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brailo
authors.forename: Vanja Vucićević
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Boras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor