The Use of Diagnostic Tumor Markers in Detecting Tobacco- and Betel Quid-Induced Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Scoping Review of Empirical Evidence

Background and aimsTobacco and betel quid are two major causes of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Tumor biomarkers offer potential headway for improved diagnosis of OSCC caused by tobacco and betel quid. Currently, several empirical investigations have explored the use of diverse types of tumor biomarkers in the diagnosis of tobacco- and betel quid-induced OSCC; however, no known study has mapped the evidence reported in those studies. This scoping review aims to map existing empirical evidence on the biomarkers of OSCC caused by these carcinogenic substances.MethodsThis scoping review adhered to the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Seven databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, AMED, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL Ultimate, Dentistry, and Oral Sciences Source) were searched to retrieve literature on diagnostic tumor markers used in detecting tobacco- and betel quid-induced OSCC. After deduplication and screening of research articles based on the eligibility criteria. Only 36 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria of the scoping review. Data from the selected articles were charted, collated, summarized, and presented.ResultsAll the included articles were on studies published within the past decade. Most of them (26 articles) reported case-control studies. More than half (20 articles) were on studies conducted in India. A total of 6707 participants were investigated in the included articles, and different oral anatomical sites were involved. The biomarkers investigated were of diverse types, ranging from genomic biomarkers to transcriptomic markers. Specifically, these markers include micronuclei, miRNAs, protein markers, gene alterations, and salivary markers. These biomarkers were used in the early detection, risk assessment, and prognosis evaluation of tobacco-/betel quid-induced OSCC.ConclusionThis scoping review provides insights into the current global research landscape on the use of biomarkers in the diagnosis of tobacco- and betel quid-induced OSCC; it also provides potential avenues for improving early detection and management of this prevalent oral malignancy.