IIT Indore Breakthrough Could Replace Biopsy For Oral Cancer Screening

A team of researchers at IIT Indore has developed a non-invasive technique that could help detect early signs of oral cancer using saliva and a simple swab from the inner surface of the mouth. The researchers say the approach could eventually support faster and more affordable screening, particularly in remote and rural areas where access to specialist cancer diagnostics remains limited. The findings have been published in the British Journal of Cancer, while a patent application for the technology is currently under process.

The technique could offer an alternative way of identifying warning signs before oral cancer becomes clinically obvious. At present, doctors generally rely on a biopsy to confirm suspected oral cancer, which involves removing a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination. While biopsies remain an important diagnostic tool, they are invasive and can be painful, making repeated testing difficult in some cases. The IIT Indore team believes saliva and oral swabs could provide a simpler way to screen people who may require further evaluation.

The study focused on oral squamous cell carcinoma, the most common form of oral cancer, as well as oral submucous fibrosis. The latter is a potentially precancerous condition associated with habits such as chewing areca nut, gutkha and tobacco. Researchers analysed samples collected from healthy individuals, people with oral submucous fibrosis and patients with oral cancer. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, they examined molecular changes associated with the progression of the disease.

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The researchers found differences related to fat and energy metabolism, oxidative stress, tissue repair and immune activity. Some of these molecular changes appeared to occur before the disease became visible through conventional clinical examination. Saliva and oral swabs provided different types of information, with saliva reflecting chemical signals from processes across the mouth and swabs collecting cells and proteins directly from the oral lining. Combining the two could therefore provide a broader picture of changes occurring as healthy tissue progresses towards a precancerous condition and cancer.

The research was carried out under the leadership of IIT Indore professor Hem Chandra Jha, who said oral cancer can leave molecular signs in saliva and on the oral mucosal surface before becoming clinically apparent. The researchers aim to convert these signals into practical tools for earlier detection and monitoring of high-risk oral lesions. However, the method is still at the research stage and is not intended to replace established diagnostic procedures such as biopsies. The team plans to conduct validation studies involving larger and more diverse patient groups before developing targeted tests for wider clinical use.

The potential significance of the research is particularly high in India, where access to specialist cancer screening and diagnostic facilities can vary widely between urban and rural areas. A screening method requiring only saliva or an oral swab could make preliminary testing easier to conduct outside major hospitals if future studies confirm its effectiveness. For now, the IIT Indore study represents an early step towards developing a quicker and less invasive way to identify people who may need further medical assessment.

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