Evaluation of salivary matrix metalloproteinase-12 levels in patients with oral lekoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells break through the basement membrane and enter the connective tissue, during that significant variations are seen in the matrix and matrix-degrading enzymes, among which Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are the most important. OSCCs may develop from precursor lesions, such as oral leukoplakia (OL), which are in direct contact with saliva. Aim: To evaluate the salivary levels of MMP-12 in participants with OSCC, OL, and normal oral mucosa using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 66 subjects, which included 22 OSCC patients, 22 OL patients, and 22 healthy subjects. Saliva was collected from all the study participants and stored at -80°C. ELISA was performed to analyse MMP-12, and the mean concentration in ng/mL was calculated for each group. Results: OSCC and OL patients had significantly higher salivary levels of MMP-12 compared to healthy controls. The salivary MMP-12 levels were also found to be significantly higher in moderate dysplasia as compared to mild dysplasia. Conclusion: MMP-12 levels in the saliva of the OSCC patients were considerably higher than in the OL and healthy controls. The salivary MMP-12 levels were higher in higher grades of epithelial dysplasia and OSCCs. Hence, salivary MMP-12 levels can be used as a non-invasive, early diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for OSCC.
Language: English
Subfield: Periodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7117372640