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Review
. 2024 Oct 8:14:1473706.
doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1473706. eCollection 2024.

Biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: unraveling the path to precision immunotherapy

Kamal S Saini  1   2 , Sasikala Somara  1 , Heidi C Ko  3 , Purva Thatai  1 , Angela Quintana  4 , Zachary D Wallen  3 , Michelle F Green  3 , Ravi Mehrotra  5 , Sandra McGuigan  1 , Lingjuan Pang  1 , Soma Das  1 , Kavita Yadav  6 , Dobrica Neric  1 , Luca Cantini  1 , Chinmayee Joshi  1 , Kazuya Iwamoto  1 , Sudha Dubbewar  1 , Laura Vidal  1 , Isagani Chico  1 , Eric Severson  3 , Luigi Lorini  7 , Sunil Badve  5 , Paolo Bossi  7   8
Affiliations
Review

Biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: unraveling the path to precision immunotherapy

Kamal S Saini et al. Front Oncol. .

Abstract

Recent strides in understanding the molecular underpinnings of head and neck cancers have sparked considerable interest in identifying precise biomarkers that can enhance prognostication and enable personalized treatment strategies. Immunotherapy has particularly revolutionized the therapeutic landscape for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, offering new avenues for treatment. This review comprehensively examines the application and limitations of the established and emerging/novel biomarkers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Established biomarkers, including well-characterized genetic mutations, protein expressions, and clinical factors, have been extensively studied and validated in clinical practice. Novel biomarkers identified through molecular analyses, including novel genetic alterations, immune-related markers, and molecular signatures, are currently being investigated and validated in preclinical and clinical settings. Biomarkers hold the potential to deepen our understanding of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma biology and guide therapeutic strategies. The evolving paradigm of predictive biomarkers facilitates the study of individual responses to specific treatments, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Keywords: diagnostic biomarker; head and neck cancer; predictive biomarker; prognostic biomarker; squamous cell cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

KS reports receiving consulting fees from the European Commission, and stock and/or other ownership interests in Fortrea Inc., and Quantum Health Analytics UK Ltd., outside the submitted work. HK, ZW, MG, and ES are all employees of Labcorp Inc. AQ reports current employment with AstraZeneca. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Recommendations for biomarker testing and immunotherapy for head and neck cancers (based on American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines, 2022).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overview of predictive biomarkers used in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Rationale for PD-L1 expression as a biomarker in immune-oncology.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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