title: Salivary protein and solCD44 levels as a potential screening tool for early detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a devastating disease usually diagnosed at a late stage when cure rates are 40%. We examined a simple and inexpensive molecular tool that may aid HNSCC detection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Building on prior findings that total protein levels are elevated in 102 HNSCC cases versus 84 control subjects, we further analyzed these levels with respect to important risk and demographic variables and compared the results to soluble CD44 (solCD44). Using multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARSs)-logit modeling and logistic regression, we determined whether total protein, solCD44, or the combination best identifies HNSCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combined higher levels of solCD44 and protein were significantly associated with HNSCC (odds ratio [OR] = 24.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.04-68.57; area under the curve [AUC] = 0.786). A model including protein plus solCD44 resulted in a better area (AUC 0.796) than either marker alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral rinse levels of solCD44 and protein seem to hold promise for detection of HNSCC.
authors.affiliation: Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center/University of Miami Leonard Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA. efranzman@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Franzmann
authors.forename: Erika P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Reategui
authors.forename: Lutecia H Mateus
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pedroso
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Glenn O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Isildinha
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: W Jarrard
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Vinata B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Lokeshwar
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012372:ROC Curve; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D011506:Proteins