Scientists from the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed an oral rinse which can help in the early detection and diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The tes detects CD44, a protein biomarker for HNSCC tumors, and together with the detection of cancer-related altered DNA, could reliably distinguish cancer from benign diseases (90% accuracy).

While CD44 appears on the surface of cells in healthy tissue, it is elevated at least seven- fold times in head and neck cancer. Dr. Franzmann and her colleagues theorized that CD44 could be detected in an oral rinse, which would flush out the CD44 protein by washing over the cellular membranes of interest in the throat and mouth.

Together with the presence of hypermethylated DNA, this non-invasive diagnostic test is said to be more effective than the PSA test for prostate cancer.

Source: Science Daily