Research Article
Nikhil N Diwan, Mahesh S Chava
Abstract
Background: The disfiguring defects, functional loss and thus the mortality rate in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) can be significantly reduced by its early diagnosis. Tumour markers are being studied which could aid in screening, diagnosis, study prognosis and monitor the response to treatment. This research was conducted to study the role of Beta - 2 microglobulin (B2M), a tumour marker in OSCC and leukoplakia. Method: Serum from 30 cases of OSCC and leukoplakia each and 20 controls was studied Materials and methods: IMMULITE/ IMMULITE 1000 kit was used to assess the B2M levels. Findings: B2M levels in various stages and were higher degree of differentiation of OSCC (p<0.001) and as the stages (p<0.05) and grades of dysplasia (p<0.001) increased in leukoplakia. Conclusion: Serum B2M levels were higher in OSCC and leukoplakia than controls. So B2M can be considered as a diagnostic and prognostic marker.