Objectives: Albumin has a known capability to modulate free serum concentrations of proteins produced by tumour cells. The technique of spin probe labelling of albumin followed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy may allow identification of these structural and functional changes, which regularly occur as consequence of binding tumour metabolites as ligands. The aim of the present study was a proof of principle evaluation of EPR-analysis of peripheral blood samples as possible predictor for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Material and methods: The present study is designed as gender-matched cohort. EPR was tested after retrieval of peripheral blood samples. The study group is represented by 32 patients with OSCC, and the control group consisted of 30 healthy patients.
Results: Overall analysis exhibited a diagnostic sensitivity of 72% (23/32 OSCC group) and a specificity of 80% (24/30 control group). Subgroup analysis revealed ten patients with elevated leukocytes (>10,000/μl; n = 9 [OSCC group] and n = 1 [control group]). After exclusion of patients with elevated white blood cell count, sensitivity considerably increased to 87% and specificity to 83%.
Conclusion: EPR analysis of peripheral blood samples might be appropriate to support the clinician in primary and follow-up diagnosis of potential tumours such as OSCC. Unfortunately, subgroup analysis characterises the method vulnerable to inflammation.
Clinical relevance: Nevertheless, our preliminary results are intriguing, as diagnosis of OSCC appears possible by simple peripheral blood examination. Thus, further appraisal of this novel method with inclusion of different tumour entities, systemic conditions and inflammation in a larger study population appears highly valuable.