Long noncoding RNA DQ786243 and miRNA146a as potential salivary biomarkers for selected oral potentially malignant disorders: a diagnostic accuracy study

Authors

• Salsabeel Afifi, Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis and Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
• Sally Ibrahim, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Fayoum University, Egypt
• Ali AW Kotb, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
• Sahar ElRefai, Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Layla Hafed, Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Saba University, Sana’a, Yemen
• Olfat Shaker, Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
• Safaa Baz, Associate Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, The British University in EgyptFollow
• Rania Shalaby, Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis and Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2026

Abstract

Objective

Assess the diagnostic accuracy of salivary long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) DQ786243 and miRNA-146a as potential biomarkers for differentiating oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral leukoplakia (OL), both belonging to oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), from healthy controls.

Study Design

Forty-five subjects were enrolled in a consecutive manner and allocated into 3 groups. Group I: 20 participants suffering from OLP. Group II: 15 patients with OL. Group III: 10 healthy controls. Expression of DQ786243 and miRNA146a in saliva was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Reference standard was histopathological examination of OLP and OL.

Results

The greatest elevation of DQ8786243 and miRNA146a fold change (FC) occurred in OLP patients, especially erosive type, followed by OL group, whereas it was the lowest in healthy controls. Sensitivity and specificity of salivary DQ8786243 were 97.14% and 100%, respectively, at a cut point of 1.8 FC, delineating the difference between disease and control. Concerning miRNA146a, at a cut point of 1.4 FC, sensitivity and specificity were 94.29% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusions

LncRNA DQ786243 and miRNA146a could be promising salivary biomarkers in the detection of OPMDs, especially OLP and OL. Salivary expression of both markers was the highest in erosive OLP.

Recommended Citation

Afifi, Salsabeel; Ibrahim, Sally; AW Kotb, Ali; ElRefai, Sahar; Hafed, Layla; Shaker, Olfat; Baz, Safaa; and Shalaby, Rania, "Long noncoding RNA DQ786243 and miRNA146a as potential salivary biomarkers for selected oral potentially malignant disorders: a diagnostic accuracy study" (2026). Dentistry. 509.
https://buescholar.bue.edu.eg/dentistry/509