New Saliva Test Can Diagnose Oral Cancer And Diabetes
A new molecular saliva test can detect oral cancer and diabetes.
PeriRX, a Pennsylvania start-up company, is carrying out clinical trials on the test that has attracted interest from the UK’s National Institute for Health Research.
The diagnostic test has been developed by Neil Gottehrer, a dentist from Havertown, Pennsylvania, and David Wong, a pioneer in salivary diagnostics and professor of oral biology at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry.
Researchers at Dr Wong’s laboratory have been examining salivary diagnostics in relation to a host of health conditions, including oral cancer, type 2 diabetes and lung and pancreatic cancers, and he is heavily involved in the design and production of the device which can be used to analyse the biological markers in saliva.
Dr Gottehrer said that he was inspired to work with Dr Wong after seeing what he could do with markers for oral cancer. As a dentist he wanted to start saving lives as well as helping to enjoy an attractive smile through cosmetic dentistry.
He discussed the saliva test for oral cancer with his patients, Dr Jack Martin, a cardiologist, and Stephen Swanick, who subsequently became the CEO of the PeriRX company.
Dr Martin said that the saliva test is different to other diagnostic tests because it does not involve any “subjective decisions” by dentists. Swanick said that there are other tests on the market but none of them have managed to make any difference to survival rates for oral cancer.
The PeriRX test would involve a very simple testing process, with a hygienist or dentist collecting a small sample of saliva that would then be sent away for analysis and results available within 48 hours.
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