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Review
. 2019 Aug 29:9:827.
doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00827. eCollection 2019.

Diagnostic Tumor Markers in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) in the Clinical Setting

Panagiota Economopoulou  1 , Remco de Bree  2 , Ioannis Kotsantis  1 , Amanda Psyrri  1
Affiliations
Review

Diagnostic Tumor Markers in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) in the Clinical Setting

Panagiota Economopoulou et al. Front Oncol. .

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a group of tumors arising in the oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx. Although HNSCC is traditionally associated with tobacco and alcohol consumption, a growing proportion of head and neck tumors, mainly of the oropharynx, are associated with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Recurrent/metastatic disease is characterized by dismal prognosis and there is an unmet need for the development of biomarkers for detection of early disease, accurate prediction of prognosis, and appropriate selection of therapy. Based on the REMARK guidelines, a variety of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers are being evaluated in clinical trials but their clinical significance is doubtful. Herein, we will focus on biomarkers in HNSCC used in the clinical setting and we will illustrate their clinical relevance.

Keywords: HPV; PD-L1; PET/CT scan; biomarkers; head and neck cancer; immunoscore; tobacco.

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