SALIVARY BIOMARKERS FOR EARLY DETECTION OF ORAL CANCER: CURRENT EVIDENCE, EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, AND CLINICAL TRANSLATION

Background: Oral cancer, predominantly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), remains a major global health burden with high morbidity and mortality due to late-stage diagnosis.Non-invasive, cost-effective diagnostic approaches are urgently needed to improve early detection and survival outcomes.To review current evidence on salivary Objective: biomarkers for early detection of oral cancer, including genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and microbiome-based markers, and to discuss translational challenges and future directions.A narrative review Methods: of peer-reviewed literature indexed in PubMed was conducted focusing on salivary biomarkers in OSCC and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs).Emphasis was placed on validated molecular targets and emerging diagnostic technologies.Salivary DNA mutations (e.g., TP53), mRNA panels (IL-8, IL-1, DUSP1, OAZ1, SAT), Results: microRNAs (miR-21, miR-31), cytokines (IL-6, IL-8), CD44, metabolomic signatures, and microbiome alterations demonstrate diagnostic potential with variable sensitivity and specificity.Exosome-based assays and liquid biopsy technologies enhance biomarker stability and detection accuracy.Salivary diagnostics represent a Conclusion: promising non-invasive strategy for early oral cancer detection.Standardization, multicenter validation, and integration of multi-omics approaches are essential for clinical translation.