Katakura et al, in 2007, examined 20 healthy patients and 19 patients with oral cancer and checked levels of cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-β1) and osteopontin in saliva through ELISA, which showed higher levels of cytokines in oral cancer patients as compared to the control group; IL-6 levels showed significant elevation in oral cancer patients while this was not detected in the control group. This evidence concerns the gene SPP1 and lip and oral cavity carcinoma.