The use of soluble, salivary c-erbB-2 for the detection and post-operative follow-up of breast cancer in women: the results of a five-year translational research study

Abstract

A surge of new technological developments, coupled with the limitations of existing disease-detection methodologies, is propelling the field of medical diagnostics forward at unprecedented rates. Advancements in proteomics and nanotechnology are paving the way for diagnostic tests that will be capable of rapid multi-analyte detection in both laboratory and non-laboratory settings. Technological advancements have also benefited biomarker research to the point where saliva is now recognized as an excellent diagnostic medium that can be collected simply and non-invasively. Salivary biomarkers have been identified that may provide diagnostic information about a variety of cancers and other diseases. In particular, proof-of-principle has been demonstrated for salivary c-erbB-2, whose elevation has been shown to correlate strongly with breast malignancy in women. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the past literature and present the current research focused on the use of saliva as a diagnostic medium for the detection of malignancies that are remote from the oral cavity.