Differences in Spectroscopic Properties of Saliva Taken From Normal Subjects and Oral Cancer Patients: Comparison Studies

Oral cancer disease is among the most common cancers in the world and are associated with mortality and morbidity. The characterization of saliva samples may help to distinguish patients with oral cancer disease from normal subjects. To characterize spectra of saliva samples from normal subjects and oral cancer patients by use of fluorescence, absorption, and H-1-NMR spectroscopy. Whole unstimulated saliva samples were collected from patients with oral cancer disease and normal subjects. The saliva samples were analyzed by absorption, fluorescence and H-1-NMR spectroscopic techniques. The characteristic spectra of saliva samples from patients with oral cancer disease and normal subjects were compared. For fluorescence spectroscopic studies, six fluorophores were found in saliva samples. Autofluorescence emission spectra and synchronous spectra of saliva were different between normal subjects and oral cancer patients. For absorption spectroscopic studies, the typical absorption spectra of saliva samples from normal subjects and oral cancer patients were also different in absorption intensity, 1st and 2nd derivative of absorption spectra values. For H-1-NMR studies, nine metabolites and four metabolites were found in saliva samples taken from normal subjects and oral cancer patients, respectively. The metabolic profiles of saliva samples from normal subjects and oral cancer patients were not similar. The characteristic spectra of saliva samples from normal subjects and oral cancer patients were found. These results showed differences in the spectra of saliva samples between both that groups. The spectra from each spectroscopic techniques could determine a candidate saliva biomarkers for distinguishing patients with oral cancer disease from normal subjects.

Automated summary

The study characterized the spectra of saliva samples from patients with oral cancer disease and normal subjects using fluorescence, absorption, and H-1-NMR spectroscopy, and found that the characteristic spectra were different between the two groups. Differences were observed in autofluorescence emission spectra and synchronous spectra of saliva between normal subjects and oral cancer patients, as well as in absorption intensity and metabolites detected via H-1-NMR spectroscopy. These findings suggest the potential for identifying saliva biomarkers to distinguish patients with oral cancer disease from normal subjects.