Biomarkers Associated With Extranodal Extension (ENE) in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC): A Systematic Review.
Lauren C Williams, Naishaliz Lorenzo, Alexander Ladenheim et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review assessed molecular biomarkers associated with extranodal extension (ENE) in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), including HPV-positive and HPV-negative disease. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Tumor tissue modified viral HPV DNA was not associated with ENE, whereas NOTCH-1 and WNT mutations and expression of podoplanin, Her3, and myoferlin were associated with ENE. The authors note that these biomarkers have also been linked to epithelial-mesenchymal transition, suggesting an EMT phenotype in ENE.
Key findings
- Ten studies met the review’s inclusion criteria.
- Tumor tissue modified viral HPV DNA was not associated with ENE.
- NOTCH-1 and WNT mutations, and podoplanin, Her3, and myoferlin expression, were associated with ENE.
Why it matters
ENE can inform treatment planning in OPSCC, and the review identifies molecular features associated with its presence. The reported links to EMT may help frame biological research into ENE and support investigation of biomarkers for its assessment, although the review does not establish their clinical predictive performance.
What to keep in mind
The review included only ten studies; the abstract provides no quantitative estimates of biomarker performance or evidence that the associations establish clinical prediction.