Prognostic Biomarkers in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Sunday, October 12, 2025

9:48 AM - 9:54 AM EDT

Location: 127

Disclosure(s):

Jesse K. Siegel, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Identifying biomarkers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has the potential to determine patient prognosis, to assist in treatment selection, and to identify optimal targets for developing treatments. This study summarizes the current knowledge of a select group of tumor protein biomarkers associated with disease outcome in patients presenting with HNSCC.

Methods: 1506 studies that reported the prognostic significance of tumor-derived proteins and patient outcomes from 1986 through 2017 were retrieved. Review by two independent reviewers identified three biomarkers (EGFR, cyclin D1, Bcl-2) that represented the most evaluated proteins from different cellular pathways with known inhibitors. An updated search of EGFR, cyclin D1, and Bcl-2 was repeated, and statistical analysis was performed using a weighted random-effects meta-analysis.

Results: Overexpression of EGFR was associated with worse overall mortality (HR = 1.56, p = .001), disease-related mortalitysurvival, disease-specific mortalitysurvival, and disease progression. Overexpression of cyclin D1 was associated with worse overall mortality (HR = 1.93, p < .001), disease-related mortalitysurvival, and disease-specific mortalitysurvival. The association with overall mortality remained significant in papers examining only oropharynx cancer for both EGFR (p=.01) and cyclin D1 (p = .01). Overexpression of Bcl-2 was associated with worse overall mortality (HR = 1.92, p = .002).

Conclusions: These findings validate EGFR, cyclin D1, and Bcl-2 as biomarkers which portend worse prognosis in HNSCC. Further work will be needed to understand whether measurement of these proteins can be useful in tailoring treatment strategies, and whether they can be used as targets for novel therapies.

Presenting Author(s)

Jesse K. Siegel, MD

Resident Physician
Loyola University Medical Center
Chicago, IL, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

William H. Adams, PhD

Assistant Professor
Loyola University Chicago
Maywood, IL, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Veronica M. Drozdowski-Nuccio, MD

Pediatric Otolaryngology Fellow
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Maywood, IL, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
KT

Kent S. Tadokoro, MD

Associate Physician
Kaiser Permanente Medical Group
Los Angeles, CA, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

CB

Carol M. Bier-Laning, MD, MBA

Professor Emerita
Dept of Otolaryngology, Loyola University Medical Center
Verona, WI, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.