Applications and perspectives of oxidative stress markers in oral potentially malignant disorders

Oxidative stress (OS) is closely related to the development of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), but accurate detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) remains challenging. As such, oxidative stress markers offer a suitable alternative to determine the degree of OS in OPMD, thereby assisting in the clinical diagnosis, staging and histopathological grading of the disease, determining the degree of oxidative stress damage in the disease as well as guiding the selection of appropriate treatments.ifferent levels of oxidative stress markers have been detected in OPMD patients. These findings help in elucidating the pathogenesis of OPMDs and providing new insights into their prevention and the potential of antioxidant-based treatments.uperoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) have been identified as key indicators of oxidative stress injury. Therefore, they can be useful for clinical staging and histopathological grading in OPMD patients. Additionally, regulating marker levels may help in preventing disease complications and malignant transformation, thereby enabling early monitoring and timely interventions.So far, several specific oxidative stress markers have been recognized, but there is a need to identify and standardize clinically reliable ones for grading, typing and monitoring precancerous oral lesions, thereby improving prevention strategies and the selection of appropriate therapies.