Detection of telomerase activity in saliva from oral squamous cell carcinoma patients

Tumor markers have been detected in saliva from patients with oral cancers. In order to investigate the expression of telomerase in saliva and its clinical significance. Sixty-two saliva specimens were collected from 32 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and 30 normal persons, the telomerase activity was assayed by telomerase PCR-ELISA method. It was detected positively in 75.0% (24/32) of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, while it was positive in 6.67% (2/30) of normal persons, the statistical difference was significant with P < 0.001. But the difference of expression of telomerase activity between the patients in clinical early and late stage was not significant with P > 0.05, the same to that between the patients with and without lymph nodes metastasis with P > 0.05. The results suggest that the telomerase in saliva could be used as an assistant marker for oral squamous cell carcinoma, however, a larger study is encouraged to confirm the value of judgement on clinical stage and lymph nodes metastasis.