Chair-side aMMP-8 Point-of-Care Testing for Periodontal Inflammation Screening in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Patients with Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) face high risk of oral complications including periodontitis, yet dental screening in oncology settings remains limited. This study evaluated the utility of chairside active-matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) point-of-care testing (POCT) as a non-invasive screening tool for periodontal inflammation in patients with NPC.

Methods:This cross-sectional study enrolled 34 patients with NPC at the Integrated Cancer Centre, Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Oral rinse samples were collected and screened qualitatively using PerioSafe® aMMP-8 POCT and quantified (ng/mL) using the ORALyzer® reader. Clinical examinations included the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) for oral hygiene assessment and probing pocket depth (PPD) for periodontal evaluation. Spearman's rank correlation was used to analyze the association between aMMP-8 concentration and OHI-S score. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Result: This cohort included 20 males and 14 females (mean age 53.8). Mean OHI-S was 3.37 (poor oral hygiene) and mean PPD was 4.03 mm. aMMP-8 POCT was positive in 91.2% of patients Mean aMMP-8 concentration was 29.44 ng/mL. Spearman rank correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between aMMP-8 levels and OHI-S (ρ = 0.314); however, the association did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.071).

Conclusion: Chairside aMMP-8 POCT is a practical and non-invasive screening tool for periodontal inflammation in patients with NPC attending cancer clinics. The non‑significant correlation may suggest multifactorial contributors to aMMP‑8 elevation beyond oral hygiene. Larger prospective studies are warranted.