Screening for oral premalignancy and cancer: what platform and which biomarkers?

This perspective on the report by Pattani et al. in this issue of the journal (beginning on page 1093) examines the utility of detecting hypermethylation of the candidate tumor suppressor genes endothelin receptor type B (EDNRB) and kinesin family member 1A (KIF1A) as a means of oral cancer or premalignancy screening. The data discussed here raise the possibility that saliva-based hypermethylation studies may hold promise as a cancer screening platform. This perspective also discusses some of the challenges and current limitations of developing biomarkers to screen not only for oral premalignancy and early cancer but for human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal neoplasia as well.