Objective: To gather preliminary data concerning local salivary levels of insulin like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and its binding protein transferrin (Tf) in patients suffering from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral lichen planus (OLP) compared to normal controls and to correlate it with clinical picture in OLp and histologic grading in OSCC.
Materials and methods: Salivary samples from 40 patients suffering from OSCC (20 poorly and 20 moderately differentiated), 40 patients suffering from OLP (clinically evaluated using REU scoring system) and 40 controls were collected and TF and IGFbP-3 levels were estimated using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for statistical analysis, ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc and Pearson correlation tests were used.
Results: Significantly higher salivary levels of IGFBP-3 and Tf were recorded in different histological grades of SCC in comparison to Olp. Control group recorded the lowest significant values compared to OLP and OSCC (p<0.0001). A week positive correlation was recorded between levels of Tf and IGFBP-3 in all groups. As well, a week positive correlation between IGFBP-3 and Tf levels with REU in OLP and histological grades in OSCC was shown, except for the correlation between TF and OSCC histologic grading that was strong positive.
Conclusions: IGFBP-3 and Tf seems to play a role in pathogenesis of both OSCC and Olp, and could be considered as a reliable marker in diagnosis of OSCC and OLP, However, further studies are required .