Open Access
CC BY 4.0 · Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811938
Review Article

Salivary Circulating Tumor Cells as a Transformative Tool in Noninvasive Cancer Diagnostics: A Review

Authors

  • Sujatha S. Reddy

    1   Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  • Akshatha R.

    1   Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  • Asna Azim

    1   Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Funding None.
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Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma remains a global health challenge due to its notable morbidity and mortality rates. Early detection and effective monitoring are critical for improving patient outcomes, as early-stage diagnosis is strongly correlated with better prognosis. However, conventional diagnostic methods such as tissue biopsies and blood tests are invasive, limiting their utility for regular monitoring. Recent advancements highlight the potential of detecting tumor cells in saliva as a noninvasive, accessible, and cost-effective alternative. Saliva-based tumor cell detection offers a particularly promising avenue for diagnosing and monitoring oral and oropharyngeal cancers. This review explores the feasibility, advantages, and challenges of utilizing saliva-based tumor cell detection for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and personalized treatment strategies.

Authors' Contributions

All authors S.S.R., A.R., and A.A. have equally contributed to manuscript writing and data collection.


Patient Consent

Patient consent is not required.




Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
19. September 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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