Progress in Precision Medicine for Head and Neck Cancer

• Published in: Cancers Vol. 16; no. 21; p. 3716
• Main Authors: Vakili, Sanaz, Behrooz, Amir Barzegar, Whichelo, Rachel, Fernandes, Alexandra, Emwas, Abdul-Hamid, Jaremko, Mariusz, Markowski, Jarosław, Los, Marek J, Ghavami, Saeid, Vitorino, Rui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 04-11-2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Development and progression; Drug therapy; Epstein-Barr virus; Gene expression; Genes; Head & neck cancer; Head and neck carcinoma; Health aspects; Human papillomavirus; Larynx; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs; miRNA; Nanotechnology; Oral carcinoma; Precision medicine; Prognosis; Review; Squamous cell carcinoma; Therapeutic targets; Canada
• ISSN: 2072-6694; 2072-6694
• DOI: 10.3390/cancers16213716

This paper presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of biomarkers for head and neck cancer (HNC), a prevalent but molecularly diverse malignancy. We detail the roles of key proteins and genes in tumourigenesis and progression, emphasizing their diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic relevance. Our bioinformatic validation reveals crucial genes such as AURKA, HMGA2, MMP1, PLAU, and SERPINE1, along with microRNAs (miRNA), linked to HNC progression. OncomiRs, including hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-31-5p, hsa-miR-221-3p, hsa-miR-222-3p, hsa-miR-196a-5p, and hsa-miR-200c-3p, drive tumourigenesis, while tumour-suppressive miRNAs like hsa-miR-375 and hsa-miR-145-5p inhibit it. Notably, hsa-miR-155-3p correlates with survival outcomes in addition to the genes RAI14, S1PR5, OSBPL10, and METTL6, highlighting its prognostic potential. Future directions should focus on leveraging precision medicine, novel therapeutics, and AI integration to advance personalized treatment strategies to optimize patient outcomes in HNC care.