Detection of interleukins-6 and 8 in saliva as potential biomarkers of oral pre-malignant lesion and oral carcinoma: A breakthrough in salivary diagnostics in Pakistan

Oral cancer is at rise in our population due to increasing use of areca nut (Betel nut) with or without tobacco. It is the second frequent malignant tumour for both the gender in Pakistan. This non-interventional case control study was carried out with the aim to explore saliva as diagnostic medium for detecting interleukins (IL) 6 and 8 as biomarkers of pre-malignant lesions (PML) and oral carcinoma. Total 105 subjects were recruited and were divided into three groups "A", "B" and "C" each comprising of 35 subjects. Group "A" comprised of cases with strong clinical evidence of oral PML. Group "B" constitute clinical and histologically proven OSCC and group "C" include disease free subjects as controls. Saliva from all the recruited subjects was procured by drooling method and stored at-20 degrees C before further process. All the collected samples were centrifuged at 4500 rpm for 15 minutes at 4 degrees C. Supernatant fluid was used in ELISA for detection and quantification of IL-6 & IL-8. Data was analysed by using Chi-square test and multivariate analysis was done by non-parametric test. P-value of 0.05 was taken as standard reference. Significant co-relation was found for qualitative salivary detection of IL-6 and IL-8 among the groups (P<0.001 and <0.0001 respectively). Regarding quantitative salivary concentration of leukotrienes, no significant co-relation was found in levels of IL-6 among the groups while there was significant association of IL-8 levels between the groups (P<0.0001).On post Hoc multiple comparison, significant co-relation was found among oral PML group and controls (P=0.001) and OSCC group and control (P=<0.0001). In conclusion salivary detection of IL-6 & IL-8 could be used as probable biomarker for early detection of oral PML & OSCC in etiologically distinct population of Pakistan.