Salivary apoptotic cells in oral (pre-) cancer as a potential diagnostic means

Background: Apoptosis is a genetically programmed form of cell death which is indispensable for development and homeostasis of multi-cellular organism. Objectives: The aim of this study was to find out the salivary apoptotic cells in oral precancerous and cancerous patients and furthermore to observe the potential diagnostic value of salivary apoptotic cells in detection of oral pre-cancer and cancer. Materials and Methods: Unsimulated saliva was collected from a group of 103 subjects diagnosed with oral (pre-) cancer and a control group of 30 healthy age- and gender-matched individuals. The test group diagnosed with (pre-) cancer was further subdivided in 4 lesion groups oral squamous cell…