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Review
. 2022 Jul 26;23(15):8257.
doi: 10.3390/ijms23158257.

Promising Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer: The Most Clinically Important miRNAs

Arsinoe C Thomaidou  1 , Panagiota Batsaki  2 , Maria Adamaki  1 , Maria Goulielmaki  2 , Constantin N Baxevanis  2 , Vassilis Zoumpourlis  1 , Sotirios P Fortis  2
Affiliations
Review

Promising Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer: The Most Clinically Important miRNAs

Arsinoe C Thomaidou et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors that extend from the oral cavity to the upper gastrointestinal tract. The principal etiologic factors for oral tumors include tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption, while human papillomavirus (HPV) infections have been accused of a high incidence of pharyngeal tumors. Accordingly, HPV detection has been extensively used to categorize carcinomas of the head and neck. The diverse nature of HNC highlights the necessity for novel, sensitive, and precise biomarkers for the prompt diagnosis of the disease, its successful monitoring, and the timely prognosis of patient clinical outcomes. In this context, the identification of certain microRNAs (miRNAs) and/or the detection of alterations in their expression patterns, in a variety of somatic fluids and tissues, could serve as valuable biomarkers for precision oncology. In the present review, we summarize some of the most frequently studied miRNAs (including miR-21, -375, -99, -34a, -200, -31, -125a/b, -196a/b, -9, -181a, -155, -146a, -23a, -16, -29, and let-7), their role as biomarkers, and their implication in HNC pathogenesis. Moreover, we designate the potential of given miRNAs and miRNA signatures as novel diagnostic and prognostic tools for successful patient stratification. Finally, we discuss the currently ongoing clinical trials that aim to identify the diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic utility of miRNAs in HNC.

Keywords: HNC; HPV; biomarkers; clinical trials; miRNAs; signatures.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of the most significant miRNAs that are upregulated in HNSCC. The first inner ring represents the subtypes of HNSCC (a); the second, third, and fourth rings represent miRNAs detected in saliva (b); tumor tissues (c); serum, plasma, or peripheral blood (d) of HNSCC patients.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overview of the most significant miRNAs that are downregulated in HNSCC. The first inner ring represents the subtypes of HNSCC (a); the second, third, and fourth rings represent miRNAs detected in saliva (b); tumor tissues (c); serum, plasma, or peripheral blood (d) of HNSCC patients.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Overview of miRNAs signatures in HNSCC subtypes; (b) miRNA signatures detected in HPV+ HNSCC and OPSCC patients. The miRNA signatures are detected and evaluated in the circulation (serum and/or plasma), tumor tissues, and saliva of HNSCC patients and in vitro, in HNSCC cell lines. The term other source refers to data derived from literature and bioinformatic analyses.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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