IntroductIonOral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic, irreversible condition characterized by reduced mouth opening due to fibrous oral tissue.Mainly associated with betel quid chewing and prevalent in South and Southeast Asia, OSMF causes burning pain and limited jaw movement, affecting quality of life.It is considered a high-risk precancerous disorder by the World Health Organization (WHO), with up to a 6% chance of transforming into oral squamous cell carcinoma. 1Prevention remains the main approach, as there is no cure.Around 5 million cases exist worldwide, mostly in Southeast Asia, but also reported elsewhere.Contributing factors include autoimmunity, nutritional deficiencies, spicy foods, human papillomavirus (HPV), genetic mutations, and use of betel nuts, tobacco, and alcohol.Regions with high betel nut use have increased oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) rates, but not all users develop the condition. 2Most OSMF patients also use tobacco, and many consume alcohol, underscoring a complex and multifactorial etiology.Research into molecular biomarkers from various biological sources aims to clarify OSMF pathogenesis and identify therapeutic targets.These genetic and epigenetic markers may help in early cancer detection and monitoring of precancerous lesions in high-risk groups. 3Using serum and salivary biomarkers allows for practical, ongoing disease assessment through measurable changes over 1,
Bohra et al. (Mon,) studied this question.