Oral Cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancy in developing countries and it makes up about 90% of all Head and Neck Cancer cases being detected worldwide. Oral Cancer is the seventh most prevalent type of cancer in the world. Around 640000 cases of Head and Neck Cancer cases are detected worldwide out of which 350,000 cases result in death. About 90% of the Head and Neck Cancers are Oral Cancers, which is the 7th most prevalent malignancy in the world. Oral Cancers need Biopsy to detect and diagnose the condition which if delayed can lead to progression of the disease and increase chances or mortality.
The researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, have discovered a low cost test to detect Oral Cancer which is non-invasive and helps in deciding whether to go for a Biopsy or not. It also helps in monitoring Pre cancerous lesions and check the progress of the lesion.
According to the article published in Cell Reports Medicine, the test is based on the levels of 2 proteins in the cells taken from the suspicious oral lesions of patients directly at the Dental Clinic in the University and ENT department at University Hospitals.
The two proteins in question are hBD-3 and hBD-2 (human beta defensin) the ratio of which helps in determining the stage of Oral Cancer. According to the findings, hBD-3 or Human beta defensin 3 is present in higher levels in Early-stage Oral Cancer while hBD-2 are low or unchanged. The ratio is known as Beta Defensin Index or BDI
Beta Defensin Index: It is the ratio of the two proteins on the lesion side over the ratio of the two proteins on the opposite side (normal site).
The BDI is used to detect cancer if the score is above the predetermined threshold it is Cancer while any score below the Threshold level is not Cancer. BDI has been tested by two different Universities separately – University of Cincinnati Medical Center and West Virginia University School of Dentistry.
Aaron Weinberg, chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at the Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine and the study’s lead researcher, said “When we first discovered hBD-3, we saw it acted as a ‘good guy,’ involved in wound-healing and killing microbes,” but “When we found it was regulated the same way certain cells grow uncontrollably, we started studying hBD-3 in the context of oral cancer.
“We found it was not only promoting tumor growth but was overexpressed in the early stages of the disease, while another member, hBD-2, wasn’t changing. This difference in levels of expression of the two proteins compared to the opposite side in the same patient led us to examine the BDI’s ability to distinguish cancer from benign lesions.”
With this Test, it is seen that it gives primary care clinics a chance to decide who exactly needs a Biopsy, thus reducing the work load of deciding who actually need Biopsies. This is particularly helpful in developing countries where access to Diagnostic tests is less.
In collaboration with Umut Gurkan, the Wilbert J. Austin Professor of Engineering at the Case School of Engineering, has developed a Point of Care (POC) device which helps in conducting this test by measuring the protein ratio and could be used directly in a clinic, giving out results in 30 minutes.
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