Salivary Biomarkers to Monitor Osteopenia and Stress Levels in Breast Cancer Survivors
Xun Xiao
The State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China.
Michael C. W. Yip
Department of Psychological Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Wings T. Y. Loo *
Department of Psychological Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong and UNIMED Medical Institute and Organisation for Oncology and Translational Research, Hong Kong.
Liang Hao
The State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China.
Louis W. C. Chow
UNIMED Medical Institute and Organisation for Oncology and Translational Research, Hong Kong.
Erich F. Lie
UNIMED Medical Institute and Organisation for Oncology and Translational Research, Hong Kong.
Christopher Y. C. Chow
UNIMED Medical Institute and Organisation for Oncology and Translational Research, Hong Kong.
Min Wang
The State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The aim of this study is to assess salivary biomarkers, i.e. cortisol, calcium, phosphate, osteocalcin, vitamin D and estradiol levels, to monitor osteopenia and stress levels in post-treatment breast cancer patients.
Methods: The salivary biomarkers of forty-five female breast cancer survivors aged between 30 to 48 years were compared against twenty-eight disease-free, healthy female subjects, which act as the reference values in our study. Saliva collection was done by resting/drooling collection method (minimal oral movements). The independent unpaired t-test was used to compare the differences between the parameters of control group and patient group.
Results: The salivary flow rate and the amount of saliva were not significantly different between both groups. The concentration of salivary cortisol in breast cancer survivors was significantly higher compared to healthy controls (P<0.01). The mean concentrations of salivary calcium (P<0.01), phosphate (P<0.05), osteocalcin (P<0.001), vitamin D (P<0.001) and estradiol (P<0.05) in the breast cancer survivor group were significantly lower than those in the control group.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the measurement of salivary biomarkers can be considered as a useful method to monitor osteopenia and stress levels in breast cancer survivors.
Keywords: Breast cancer survivor, osteopenia, stress; saliva, biomarkers