MicroRNAs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a possible challenge as biomarkers, determinants for the choice of therapy and targets for personalized molecular therapies

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are referred to a group of heterogeneous cancers that include structures of aerodigestive tract such as oral and nasal cavity, salivary glands, oropharynx, pharynx, larynx, paranasal sinuses, and local lymph nodes. HNSCC is characterized by frequent alterations of several genes such as TP53, PIK3CA, CDKN2A, NOTCH1, and MET as well as copy number increase in EGFR, CCND1, and PIK3CA. These genomic alterations play a role in terms of resistance to chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, and prediction of patient outcome. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small singlestranded noncoding RNAs which are about 19-25 nucleotides. They are involved in the tumorigenesis of HNSCC including dysregulation of cell survival, proliferation, cellular differentiation, adhesion, and invasion. The discovery of the stable presence of the miRNAs in all human body made them attractive biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis or as targets for novel therapeutic ways, enabling personalized treatment for HNSCC. In recent times the number of papers concerning the characterization of miRNAs in the HNSCC tumorigenesis has grown a lot. In this review, we discuss the very recent studies on different aspects of miRNA dysregulation with their clinical significance and we apologize for the many past and most recent works that have not been mentioned. We also discuss miRNA-based therapy that are being tested on patients by clinical trials.

Li–Fraumeni Syndrome: Mutation of TP53 Is a Biomarker of Hereditary Predisposition to Tumor: New Insights and Advances in the Treatment

“…While in sporadic tumors, the search for predictive biomarkers of the disease or the efficacy of the therapy is constantly being explored in the field of non-coding RNA, not only in tumor tissues and metastases, but also in fluids such as blood, saliva, and urine, after the aforementioned studies, this kind of research never blossomed in the field of LFS. In contrast, in recent years, the number of papers linking mutp53 with non-coding RNA signatures, traced from liquid biopsies of cancer patients and endowed with the predictive power of disease and/or efficacy of therapies is increasing [ 86 , 87 , 88 ].…”

Micro-RNAs, the Cornerstones of the Future of Radiobiology in Head and Neck Cancers?

“…MiR-205-5p is also considered a tumor suppressor and a limiter of tumor migration and invasion in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. An association with let-7d of this miRNA may constitute a combined biomarker of survival and prognosis in HNSCC [ 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 ]. Reduced miR-29c-5p expression is associated not only with the malignant phenotype in HNSCC but also has prognostic and therapeutic implications.…”

“…Of note is the different effect that the same miRNA has in two different anatomical localizations of cancer for the same histopathological tumoral type. The low level of miR-203 predicts an unfavorable prognosis and early recurrence after radiotherapy in laryngeal cancer and the same miRNA is associated with radiosensitivity in nasopharyngeal cancer cell populations [ 66 , 73 , 89 , 90 ]. Given the need for a validated biomarker to be accessible and evaluable in dynamics, the conceptual use of miRNAs as biomarkers obtained from body fluids is a goal of translational research in personalized medicine and particularly in oncology.…”

The Therapeutic Landscape of Salivary Gland Malignancies—Where Are We Now?

“…Novel treatment options, combined with Notch inhibitors, are therefore needed in this clinically poor group. In addition, multiple research groups are focusing on molecular abnormalities (DNA as well as RNA) which may be of use for SGMs [ 154 , 155 , 156 , 157 , 158 , 159 , 160 ]. Selecting patients based on the tumor molecular profile can be considered a major advantage and should be recommended as this can guide the development of novel therapeutic strategies according to disease biology and further personalize patient treatment.…”