To evaluate the effectiveness of a rapid 4-gene mRNA test, qMIDSV3, as a triage tool for distinguishing oral squamous cell carcinoma from low-risk oral lesions.
Approach:
Study Design: Researchers analyzed 1,090 brush biopsy assays from 545 patients.
Test Evaluation: The qMIDSV3 assay distinguished oral squamous cell carcinoma from low-risk oral leukoplakia and oral lichen planus in less than 60 minutes.
Key Findings:
The assay achieved an AUC of 0.975.
Sensitivity was 95.7%, specificity was 95.1%, and overall accuracy was 95.5%.
Both false-positive and false-negative rates were kept under 5%.
The noninvasive brush can be repeated over time and requires no cold-chain storage.
It could spare over 90% of patients with low-risk oral lesions from unnecessary scalpel biopsies.
Interpretation:
The oral brush biopsy presents a promising noninvasive alternative for triaging oral lesions.
Conclusion:
The study suggests that the oral brush biopsy could be a valuable tool in identifying cancers needing attention while minimizing unnecessary procedures.
These 10 metropolitan areas reported population gains and active federal shortage area designations identified in census and health care workforce data.
