Brush Biopsy Screening for Mouth Cancer

March 24, 2024

2 min read

Brush biopsy is a newly developed oral screening test that allows dentists to screen for mouth cancers.

Invented by researchers from the University of Illinois, Chicago, the diagnostic test uses a small brush to collect cells from potentially cancerous lesions in the mouth.

What is a brush biopsy?

A brush biopsy is a newly developed noninvasive screening tool that uses a cytology brush to collect cells from potentially cancerous oral lesions to diagnose oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The test looks for small segments of microRNA, a genetic material that can distinguish between normal tissue and tumor, with 90% accuracy.

The epithelial cells are gently collected from the patient’s mouth by a doctor or nurse who places the brush in a solution tube and sends it to the lab for microRNA analysis.

The screening test improves upon surgical biopsies, the current diagnostic tool for mouth cancers. Brush biopsy screening looks for oral cancers in Stages 1 and 2 to detect them before they progress to more advanced, hard-to-treat stages.

Why are brush biopsies done?

Visual examination is often inadequate to detect precancers and early-stage oral cancers in people.

Brush biopsies can be used to detect precancerous and cancerous lesions that were previously unrecognized.

A positive result returned on brush biopsies can be conclusively used to diagnose a malignancy, after which a conventional incisional or punch biopsy can be performed.

What are the benefits of a brush biopsy?

Surgical biopsies collect a mixture of cells, making analysis complicated and risking the spreading of cancerous cells to other areas of the mouth.

Conversely, brush biopsies offer an improved approach to collecting epithelial cells from the patient’s mouth.

Brush biopsies are also better than blood tests that offer a general detection of cancer genes. The test collects cells from a single site, which allows a focused treatment if malignancy is detected.

Brus biopsies can diagnose other oral diseases if researchers unlock their unique microRNA signatures.

What are mouth cancers?

Mouth cancers can occur on any part of the mouth, like:

Gums
Lips
Roof of the mouth
The inner lining of the cheeks
Tongue
Floor of the mouth (under the tongue)

Cancers that occur within the mouth are called oral cancers. They can be of the following types:

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx: The cancer starts in the squamous cells, the thin, flat cells that form the mouth and throat lining.
HPV-related cancers: HPV infections can cause squamous cell cancers of the oropharynx.
Verrucous carcinoma: A low-grade, rare form of squamous cell cancer found in the gums and cheek.
Minor salivary gland cancers: The cancers usually start in the glands lining the mouth and the throat.
Lymphomas: Cancers that can begin in the tonsils and base of the tongue, which contain lymphoid tissue.