Aim: To detect CA- 125 level in saliva of oral cancer patients. Methodology: A total of fifty- six SCC patients and thirty healthy subjects were selected. A non- stimulated whole saliva (5cc) was collected and evaluated for CA- 125 level ELISA. Results: A higher salivary CA 125 level (514.2±132.6 U/mL) was observed in poorly differentiated SCC followed by moderately differentiated (340.6±80.2 U/mL) and minimum values was observed in well differentiated SCC (236.2±76.2 U/mL). The mean± SD CA- 125 level in group I patients was 428.5± 110.2 U/mL and in group II was 132.4± 58.6 U/mL. Higher salivary CA 125 level (520.5±168.4 U/mL) was observed in stage IV and minimum in stage I (165.2±46.2 U/mL) which was statistically significant (P< 0.05).

Conclusion: Patients with poorly differentiated SCC, cases of buccal mucosa and stage IV exhibited higher values of salivary CA- 125 level as compared to healthy control.

Key words: Oral Cancer, Saliva, Tongue, CA- 125