title: Is salivary epidermal growth factor a biomarker for oral leukoplakia? A preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the salivary epidermal growth factor (EGF) levels between patients with oral leukoplakia (OL) and clinically healthy individuals, to evaluate the association between salivary and tissular EGF, and to correlate EGF with clinicopathologic data, including the presence of dysplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Salivary EGF levels were measured in 32 patients and 32 controls. The tissue expressions of EGF and its receptor (EGFR) were immunohistochemically evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Salivary EGF levels were similar in patients with OL compared with controls. There was no association between the salivary levels and immunohistochemical expression of EGF. An absence of EGF detection by immunohistochemistry was associated with development of multiple lesions. Dysplastic lesions showed a tendency toward presenting higher salivary EGF levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Currently, it is not possible to indicate salivary EGF as a biomarker for OL. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of EGF in oral carcinogenesis. A follow-up study is necessary to evaluate the changes in EGF values following the surgical excision of OL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Surgery, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jaeger
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Surgery, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carla
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Assunção
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Surgery, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Carlos
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Caldeira
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Surgery, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Celso Martins
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Queiroz-Junior
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa Fátima
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Bernardes
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Surgery, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: Cassiafa@ufmg.br.
authors.forename: Maria Cássia Ferreira
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Aguiar
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor