IIT Indore develops quick, non-invasive method to detect cancer early
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Indore: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore have developed a non-invasive technique that could detect early signs of oral cancer using saliva and a swab sample collected from the inner surface of the mouth.
The researchers said on Thursday, August 13, that they plan to validate the findings among larger and more diverse groups of patients before developing targeted, easy-to-use tests for routine clinical use.
According to the researchers, the technique is point-of-care, economical, rapid and non-invasive — features that could be particularly useful in India, where access to specialist cancer diagnostic facilities remains limited outside major cities.
Currently, oral cancer is confirmed through a biopsy, in which a tissue sample is removed from the affected area of the mouth. Researchers said the procedure can be painful, while repeated biopsies may not be practical. The new technique, by contrast, does not require an invasive procedure and could provide a low-cost and rapid screening option.
The method could also improve access to early oral cancer screening in remote and rural areas, the researchers said in a statement.
The study examined two conditions: oral squamous cell carcinoma, the most common form of oral cancer, and oral submucous fibrosis, a condition frequently associated with areca nut, gutkha or tobacco chewing that can eventually become cancerous.
The researchers found that saliva contains chemical signals reflecting changes occurring inside the mouth, while a soft swab of the oral lining collects cells and proteins directly from the tissue.
Using an advanced laboratory technique known as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, the researchers analysed and compared samples from healthy individuals, patients with oral submucous fibrosis and those with oral cancer.
The analysis identified distinct changes related to the body's processing of fat and energy, oxidative stress, tissue repair and immune activity. According to the researchers, these changes appeared before the disease became visible to the naked eye.
By combining information obtained from saliva and oral swab samples, the team was able to develop a more comprehensive picture of the gradual changes through which healthy tissue progresses to a precancerous lesion and eventually to cancer, the statement said.
The technique was developed under the leadership of IIT Indore professor Hem Chandra Jha.
Jha said the research showed that oral cancer produces molecular changes in saliva and on the oral mucosal surface before it becomes clinically apparent. The team's objective is to turn these non-invasive signals into practical tools for earlier detection and improved monitoring of high-risk oral lesions.
The findings have been published in the British Journal of Cancer. A patent application for the technology has also been filed and is currently under process.