Noninvasive biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

The 5-year survival rates of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) have remained unchanged despite improved locoregional control and reduced treatment-related morbidity. This can be attributed to multiple factors like lack of suitable markers for screening, presentation of the disease at an advanced stage, failure of advanced lesions to respond to treatment, and variation in site-specific behavior of the tumor. The treatment of these cancers is most effective when the tumor burden is lowest and lymphatic spread is the least. The effective therapy for these tumors will depend on early diagnosis and intervention. Unfortunately, no strategy has yet proven to be consistent and effective with reference to its detection at an early stage. However, newer ongoing researches to detect various “biomarkers” that are biological factors within a tumor that affects the molecular process in tumor progression are in vogue. The present biomarkers for HNSCC include the p53 gene and its protein; microsatellite regions throughout the genome; human papillomavirus; proteins and its metabolites involved in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, genetic information, and their expression as DNA and RNA; intracellular adhesion molecules; epithelial growth factor receptor; and various measures of immune response to cancer. Biomarkers have potential clinical applications not only in early detection of primary disease but they are also helpful in detection of recurrent cancer as well as could be exploited in selecting molecular targets for possible diagnosis and therapy. However, these tests need validation before these can be used in clinical practice. © 2014 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.