[Study of aberrant methylation of TSG in saliva in case of upper-aerodigestive-tract cancer.]

CURRENT SITUATION: Early detection of the relapse in case of tumor located in the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) is an important point for improving prognosis. Clinical control has not been efficient and, until today, no biological biomarker has been validated for surveillance of patients. In a preliminary study, we have shown the benefit of the methylation status of six tumor suppressor genes (TSG): TIMP3, ECAD, p16, MGMT, DAPK, and RASSF1A in saliva for early diagnosis of tumor relapse. The main objective of this second study is to confirm the initial results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a bicenter, prospective, diagnostic, single-blind study. The study started in December 2007, running for one year. The main inclusion criterion is a patient with squamous-cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or the oropharynx, stages I to II, without previous treatment for this location. Eighty patients will be included. The data analysis will use a multivariate Cox model. EXPECTED RESULTS: If our preliminary results are confirmed, identification of methylations in saliva would be able to constitute the first usuable biomarker, for the follow-up of patients with UADT cancer.