Table 1.
Role of biomarkers in HNSCC.
| Marker | Mechanism | Prognostic role | Predictive role | Diagnostic role | Limitations | Validated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPV | Oncogenesis-driver in OSCC | Yes | No (2 clinical trials negative, other trials still ongoing) | Yes (Cancer of unknown primary presenting with cervical LNs) | Lack of specificity, applicable only in OSCC | Yes |
| PET imaging | - | Yes (high pretreatment SUV) | Yes (indication of residual disease for performing LN dissection) | Yes (stage, treatment response) | Appropriate interval between treatment completion and PET unclear, not always available | Yes |
| Tobacco | Inflammation and tobacco carcinogen-induced DNA damage | Yes (inferior treatment outcomes) | No | No | Demographic parameter | Yes |
| Immunoscore | Quantification of CD3+ and CD8+ TILs in the tumor core and the invasive margin of resected tumors | Yes (high number of TILs improve survival) | No (being assessed for response to immunotherapy) | No | Not always available | Yes |
| PD-L1 | Mediates the inhibition of T cell activity | Yes (conflicting) | Yes (response to immunotherapy) | No | Technical issues in measurement | Yes |
| Skeletal muscle mass | Abnormal body composition | Yes (poor survival) | Yes (wound complication, fistula after laryngectomy, chemotherapy toxicity) | No | No | |
| Next generation sequencing | Oncogenesis drivers | Yes (TP53, NOTCH1, CDKN2A mutations) | No | No | Cost, Not always avalaible | No |
HPV, Human Papilloma Virus; LN, lymphnode; OSCC, Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; PD-L1, Programmed Death-Ligand-1; SUV, Standardized Uptake Value; TILs, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes.