In a recent study published in the Journal of Proteomics, a group of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee identified and validated three proteins found in saliva that can be used to predict metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC).

The diagnosis method is based on the salivary gland function, which is impaired in people with breast cancer as the protein composition is altered with disease progression. Thus, an effective biomarker can be obtained if the difference can be identified and quantified. 

The researchers claimed that about 10-15% of all breast cancers are metastatic TNBC, the most aggressive form that does not respond to the usual hormonal and HER2-protein targeting drugs.

In the study, the team collected saliva from healthy subjects and those diagnosed with TNBC. The proteins in these saliva samples were isolated and tested. 

On analyzing the samples, the team discovered differences in the amounts of three salivary proteins, namely, lipocalin-1, SMR-3B, and plastin-2, between healthy subjects and cancer patients. The team stated that these peptides could point to the presence of TNBC with 80% sensitivity and 95% specificity.

(Source: https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1005056 )