Dear colleague,

Early detection of malignant transformation in oral diseases remains a major challenge in oral oncology. Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) such as leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and oral lichen planus exhibit variable risk of progression to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Advances in molecular biology and bioanalytical techniques have opened new avenues for identifying reliable circulating and salivary biomarkers that can predict malignant evolution before clinical manifestation.

This special issue aims to gather cutting-edge research, systematic reviews, and translational studies focused on the discovery, validation, and clinical utility of biomarkers in blood, saliva, and oral tissue. Topics of interest include genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and epigenetic signatures, as well as emerging non-invasive biosensing technologies. We particularly welcome contributions on biomarker-based risk stratification, longitudinal monitoring, and integration with imaging or AI-driven diagnostic platforms. Critical and Systematic Review on the topic will be prioritized.

By uniting clinical, laboratory, and computational perspectives, this special issue seeks to accelerate the translation of biomarker research into routine screening, risk assessment, and personalized interventions. Ultimately, our goal is to improve early diagnosis, guide targeted surveillance, and reduce the global burden of oral cancer through precision prevention strategies.