Evaluation of Serum and Salivary IgG in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Aims: To evaluate salivary and serum IgG levels in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and healthy control subjects and to assess the effect of treatment on IgG levels.
Study Design: A cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Oral Pathology and Department of Radiotherapy, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria between January 2010 and December 2010.
Methodology: Seventy eight subjects comprising 30 patients with untreated HNSCC, 18 patients with HNSCC receiving treatment and 30 healthy, age and gender-matched individuals were included. Serum and salivary samples from the participants were analysed for total IgG using ELISA technique.
Results: The mean serum IgG in untreated and treated HNSCC patients was significantly lower compared with healthy controls (P=.001), while mean salivary IgG was significantly elevated (P=.001) in untreated HNSCC patients compared with treated and healthy controls. There was no significant correlation between serum and salivary IgG levels.
Conclusion: In patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, serum IgG was reduced while salivary IgG was elevated compared with healthy controls. Our finding suggests differential roles of immunoglobulin G in serum and saliva of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Hence, salivary IgG may be a useful biomarker in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, while serum IgG levels may be useful in monitoring treatment in these individuals.