Biomarkers of oral cancer: A current views and directions

Abstract

Tumor biomarkers are the chemical substances that the human body or cancer cells produce in response to the presence of cancer. These markers are mostly proteins that cancer cells produce more quickly. Patients with certain types of cancer have higher levels of these protein substances in their urine, blood, or body tissue and help differentiate between primary and secondary tumors. Oral carcinomas, especially of the head-and-neck region, represent a critical diagnostic challenge not only for the histopathologist but also for the clinician when planning an appropriate treatment protocol. For these reasons, the practice and understanding of these biomarkers have improved tremendously. This review not only sheds light on the different types of tumor markers but also shows their role in some diseases.

Keywords

• head-and-neck cancer
• malignancy
• oral cancer
• tumor markers