Recommendations for the use of biomarkers for head and neck cancer, including salivary gland tumours: a consensus of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology and the Spanish Society of Pathology

Abstract

The treatment of head and neck and salivary gland tumours is complicated and evolves constantly. Prognostic and predictive indicators of response to treatment are enormously valuable for designing individualized therapies, which justifies their research and validation. Some biomarkers, such as p16, Epstein–Barr virus, PD-L1, androgen receptors and HER-2, are already used routinely in clinical practice. These biomarkers, along with other markers that are currently under development, and the massively parallel sequencing of genes, ensure future advances in the treatment of these neoplasms. In this consensus, a group of experts in the diagnosis and treatment of tumours of the head and neck and salivary glands were selected by the Spanish Society of Pathology (Sociedad Española de Anatomía Patológica—SEAP) and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica—SEOM) to evaluate the currently available information and propose a series of recommendations to optimize the determination and daily clinical use of biomarkers.

Molecular Factors in Carcinoma Ex Pleomorphic Adenoma: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

“…Prospectively identified biomarkers were p53, HMGA2, PLAG1, HER2, ERBB2, HRAS, KRAS, C-KIT, AR, ER, PR, PI3KCA, NOTCH1, and NTRK, based upon existing reviews. 1,10,18,24 Additional biomarkers were collected prospectively and included into data synthesis when threshold of ≥3 studies were met. Study types eligible for inclusion were randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, abstracts with sufficient detail, and case series with more than five patients.…”

“…8,[10][11][12][13][14] Existing literature suggests high potential for targeted therapies in CXPA, 15,16 particularly because the molecular genetics underlying the malignant transformation from pleomorphic adenoma, to carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA), has been an ongoing area of interest. [17][18][19] Known molecular markers in CXPA include PLAG1 and HMGA2 fusion genes, p53, hormonal receptors, HER2, and ERBB mutations. 1,10,11,[20][21][22] Although multiple reviews have been published on salivary gland tumours, 7,10,13,18,23 including CXPA, 10,13,23,24 it has been a decade since the last dedicated systematic review pertaining to molecular genetics in CXPA was published.…”

“…[17][18][19] Known molecular markers in CXPA include PLAG1 and HMGA2 fusion genes, p53, hormonal receptors, HER2, and ERBB mutations. 1,10,11,[20][21][22] Although multiple reviews have been published on salivary gland tumours, 7,10,13,18,23 including CXPA, 10,13,23,24 it has been a decade since the last dedicated systematic review pertaining to molecular genetics in CXPA was published. 1 Existing reviews on important biomarkers, such as PD-L1, 25 PLAG1, 12 and other targeted therapies, 18,19 do not address CXPA as a distinct entity.…”

“…1,10,11,[20][21][22] Although multiple reviews have been published on salivary gland tumours, 7,10,13,18,23 including CXPA, 10,13,23,24 it has been a decade since the last dedicated systematic review pertaining to molecular genetics in CXPA was published. 1 Existing reviews on important biomarkers, such as PD-L1, 25 PLAG1, 12 and other targeted therapies, 18,19 do not address CXPA as a distinct entity. Aside from HER2, 22 the exact role of molecular markers in the diagnosis and treatment of CXPA is yet to be precisely defined.…”

‘Toxic Masculinity’: What Is Known about the Role of Androgen Receptors in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…Accordingly, new targeted therapies and predictive, prognostic, and diagnostic biomarkers for the early clinical detection of HNSCC are necessary. Various new biomarkers were evaluated in clinical trials in the last decade; these included hormonal receptors [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”