Alteration in serum lipid profile pattern in oral cancer and oral submucous fibrosis patients

Introduction: Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is one of the commonest potentially malignant disorders in India. Hypolipidemia can be considered as one of the biochemical marker in early detection of cancer. Context: This study is undertaken to evaluate the role of serum lipids as tumor markers in the diagnosis of oral precancerous lesions and oral cancer. Aim: To determine the significance of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipid cholesterol (HDLC) triglycerides as tumor markers in the diagnosis of OSMF. Materials and Methods: Study was conducted in outpatient Department of Oral medicine and Radiology. Thirty cases each of clinically diagnosed and histopathologically confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), OSMF, and 30 controls were selected and serum lipid analysis was done. Statistical Analysis Used: Unpaired t-test (student t-test) was used for statistical analysis in this study. Results: The serum lipid level was statistically significantly lowered in patients with oral cancer and OSMF when compared with normal control group. There is an inverse relationship between serum lipid profile pattern in oral cancer as well as in OSMF. Conclusions: The serum lipid level was statistically significantly lowered in patients with oral cancer and OSMF when compared with normal control group. The lower serum lipid status may be considered as a useful biochemical marker for early detection of cancer.