The diagnostic value of soluble TIM-3 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: To evaluate the soluble TIM-3 (sTIM-3) expression level in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and determine its clinical diagnostic potential. Methods: The sTIM-3 and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCAg) levels of 199 OSCC patients and 107 healthy individuals were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and their individual and combined efficiency rates were compared. Results: The results showed higher sTIM-3 and SCCAg levels in the OSCC patients and better diagnostic potential for a combination of these markers than for their individual assessments, as well as positive correlation of sTIM-3 levels with clinicopathological factors. Conclusion: sTIM-3 is a potential novel and readily accessible OSCC biomarker, which in combination with SCCAg expression level might better diagnose OSCC patients. Lay abstract Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oral cancer. It affects the patients' swallowing, speech, appearance, social interactions and other aspects. Soluble TIM-3 (sTIM-3) is a negative regulatory molecule. Serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen are closely related to the growth of OSCC tumors. Herein, the serum levels of sTIM-3 in OSCC patients were examined. This study demonstrated that the combined assessment of sTIM-3 and squamous cell carcinoma antigen expression levels might better distinguish OSCC patients from healthy individuals.