title: Salivary level of interleukin-8 in oral precancer and oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin 8 (IL-8) is a pro-angiogenic, pro-inflammatory mediator that belongs to the family of chemokines. Due to its pro-angiogenic characteristic, it may play a vital role in tumour angiogenesis and progression.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to estimate the levels of salivary IL-8 in oral precancer and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and compare them with healthy controls. The aim was to evaluate its efficacy as a potential biomarker for these diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each group comprised 25 individuals. The salivary IL-8 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of salivary IL-8 were found to be significantly elevated in patients with OSCC as compared to the precancer group (p < 0.0001) and healthy controls (p < 0.0001). However, the difference in salivary IL-8 concentrations among the precancer group and controls was statistically non-significant (p = 0.738).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested that salivary IL-8 can be utilised as a potential biomarker for OSCC. Salivary IL-8 was found to be non-conclusive for oral premalignancy in this preliminary study. Hence, its possible role in transition from premalignancy to malignancy needs further research with larger sample sizes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Saliva as a diagnostic biofluid offers a number of advantages over blood-based testing. The role of IL-8 in oral cancer if validated further by future research can provide an easy diagnostic test as well as a prognostic indicator for patients undergoing treatment. Therefore, if it's role in tumourigenesis can be sufficiently assessed, it could open up new avenues to find out novel treatment modalities for oral cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Hospital, 1135-Kaushal Bhavan, Central Avenue, Gandhibagh, Nagpur, Maharashtra, 440032, India. dr.srpunyani@gmail.com
authors.forename: Silky Rajesh
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Punyani
authors.forename: Ramhari Shankarrao
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Sathawane
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000032:analysis; D001114:Areca; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis*; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000276:immunology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D012907:Smoking; D064424:Tobacco Use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016209:Interleukin-8; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides