Estimation of serum β2-microglobulin in potentially malignant disorders and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: A clinicopathological study

BACKGROUND: Tumor markers are substances, which quantitatively changes in serum, during the tumor development, one such tumor marker is serum β2-microglobulin (β2-m). The aim of this study was to establish the role of β2-m as a biochemical parameter for diagnosis and prognosis of oral carcinoma by estimation of serum β2-m levels in potentially malignant lesions, conditions, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 48 subjects (16 control, 8 oral submucous fibrosis, 8 oral leukoplakia, and 16 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients of different stages), conducted at department of Oral Medicine, Kothiwal Dental College, Moradabad, India. Under aseptic precautions, 5 ml venous blood was drawn and serum was separated. Estimation of β2-m level in serum was carried out by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The data were analyzed by using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS 17.0) software. Cases and controls were tested for statistical significance with one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey's HSD. Values of P < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The mean serum β2-m level in the control group was 1.173 ± 0.059, in potentially malignant lesions/conditions group was 1.688 ± 0.137 and in oral squamous cell carcinoma group was 2.835 ± 0.0313. This progressive increase in serum β2-m level was found to be highly significant (P value < 0.001). Results of Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed β2-m as a 100% sensitive and specific biomarker for oral squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The present study establishes β2-m as a specific biological tumor marker for diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of oral squamous cell carcinoma.