Role of miRNA in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Evidence suggests that miRNAs play an important role in progression, recurrence, metastasis and postoperative survival of HNSCC. Studies have investigated the utility of miRNAs as diagnostic/prognostic tools and as potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers that may improve the management and outcomes of HNSCC. The aim of this article is to review the current literature on aberrant expression profiles of miRNAs in biopsy samples of HNSCC and their role in cancer development, metastasis, prognosis and survival of these patients. This review gives an overview that miRNAs deregulation play major role in the development of HNSCC. They offer the potential to be used as biomarkers or novel therapeutic targets. Future research is required to test their use in both of these fields.

Keywords:

• head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• HNSCC
• metastasis
• miRNA
• prognosis and survival

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide.

• Based on the literature, it appears that the dysregulation of miRNA in HNSCC is either over-expression, under expression or both.

• miRNA has been considered as more suitable potential biomarker than protein biomarkers for clinical applications in cancer prognosis.

• Next-generation sequencing is considered as the most preferable for miRNA profiling due to advances in sequencing technology.

• Evidences have proposed that some miRNA expression ratios distinguish diseased tissue from non-diseased tissue and may be utilized in diagnosing HNSCC at an early stage.

• Few studies have claimed that miRNA regulate the metastatic properties of cancer stem cells and epithelial mesenchymal transition.

• Novel therapies are perhaps the most exciting aspect in the developing field of miRNAs in HNSCC.

Notes