Cell-Free HPV-DNA as a Biomarker for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma-A Step Towards Personalized Medicine?

Nora Wuerdemann*, Rishabh Jain, Anne Adams, Ernst-Jan M. Speel, Steffen Wagner, Simon A. Joosse, Jens P. Klussmann

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Global incidences of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are rising due to an association with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Although there is an improved overall survival of HPV-related OPSCC; up to 25% of the patients develop recurrent or distant metastatic disease with a fatal outcomes. Biomarkers to monitor this disease are not established. This meta-analysis reviews the role of cell-free HPV DNA in liquid biopsy (LB) as a biomarker for HPV-related OPSCC. Pubmed, Livivo, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to August, 2020. All studies were analyzed by Meta-DiSc 1.4 and Stata 16.0 statistical software. In total, 16 studies were considered for systematic review, whereas 11 studies met inclusion criteria for meta-analysis, respectively. Pooled sensitivity of cfHPV-DNA at first diagnosis and during follow-up was 0.81 (95% CI; 0.78–0.84) and 0.73 (95% CI; 0.57–0.86), while pooled specificity was 0.98 (95% CI; 0.96– 0.99) and 1 (95% CI; 0.99–1). The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) at first diagnosis was 200.60 (95% CI; 93.31–431.22) and 300.31 (95% CI; 60.94–1479.88) during follow-up. The area under the curve (AUC) of summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) was 0.99 at first diagnosis and 1.00 during follow-up, respectively. In conclusion, cfHPV-DNA presents a potential biomarker with high specificity in patients with HPV-related OPSCC.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2997
Number of pages18
JournalCancers
Volume12
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2020

Keywords

  • oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
  • human papillomavirus
  • liquid biopsy
  • cell-free DNA
  • biomarker
  • meta-analysis
  • HUMAN-PAPILLOMAVIRUS DNA
  • CIRCULATING TUMOR-CELLS
  • LOCALLY ADVANCED HEAD
  • LIQUID BIOPSIES
  • PLASMA
  • CANCER
  • SURVEILLANCE
  • RECURRENCE
  • INSIGHTS
  • DISEASE

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