title: Cytokines in saliva increase in head and neck cancer patients after treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Approximately one-third of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) recur within 2 years of treatment. Due to ease of collection, saliva is of interest to monitor changes that correlate with treatment. Previously this was a challenge due to xerostomia after conventional radiation. The emergence of gland-sparing radiation has made it possible to collect saliva post-treatment. This study investigated changes in cytokines in saliva pre- and post-treatment to provide foundational knowledge for future studies exploring the use of saliva to monitor treatment response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre- and post-treatment saliva was evaluated for 8 cytokines by multiplex assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In oropharyngeal HNSCC, secretion of epidermal growth factor (EGF), GROα (Growth-regulated protein alpha), interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α, and vascular endothelial growth factor increased significantly post-treatment. In additional patients, significant increases of GR-α and IL-6 were validated, but EGF showed no change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The uniqueness of this study is its comparison of salivary cytokines from HNSCC patients pre- and post-treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Nickole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bellile
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Carol Anne
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Murdoch-Kinch
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisbruch
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Greg T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address: njdsilva@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Nisha J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: D'Silva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines