Comparison of serum and salivary enzyme creatine phosphokinase in patients with oral dysplasias

Oral Epithelial Dysplasia (OED) appears as chronic, progressive, premaligant lesions of the oral mucosa, which are considered as the forerunner of Oral cancers, is a threat to the public accounting for increasing number of new cases and deaths worldwide, every year. Most of the oral cancers are detected at a late stage which is difficult to treat as well as has poor prognosis. The application of advanced molecular biological and biochemical methodologies to elucidate the biomarkers of these potentially malignant disorders may help in early detection of these lesions. A precise and more accurate marker which has the potential to predict the progression of a potentially malignant disorder to a malignant state, will enable early diagnosis as well as targeting of these lesions for the subsequent modification of treatment and follow up. One of the important molecular change which accompanies the transformation of a potentially malignant disorder involving the oral cavity to a malignant state is, elevation of serum levels of enzyme, Creatine Phosphokinase, which occurs on account of damage to the connective tissue cells and the deeper submucosal layers due to invasion by the malignant cells. The present study is undertaken to compare the levels of enzyme, Creatine phosphokinase in the serum and saliva of patients with oral dysplastic lesions and henceforth to assess the usefulness of these enzymes as a diagnostic marker of early transformation of these dysplastic lesions to a malignant state. Keywords: CPK, OED, PMD.