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Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
Published on: April 22, 2019
Molecular markers of radiation effectiveness in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Abstract:
The response of cancer to ionizing radiation treatment varies in a manner not fully explained by standard clinical, demographic, or histologic factors. Response may be related to intrinsic biologic capability of the tumor cells and/or the host immune or stromal support tissues. The availability of molecular biological methods to detect specific tumor-related genetic alterations and altered protein expression has prompted a search for molecular markers that accurately predict tumor response to therapy. Tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes such as p53 and Cyclin D1, key components of pathways that control tumor behavior, such as epidermal growth factor receptor and apoptotic factors including bcl-2, markers of proliferation (Ki-67), and markers of angiogenesis such as vascular endothelial growth factor have been examined. To date, results for each of these are mixed. This is not surprising given the complexity of the biologic system of tumor response to damage and the multitude of factors that contribute to the diversity of clinical presentation of disease. This manuscript reviews the literature to date in an effort to summarize results and suggest the direction for further study.
Insights
Predicting cancer response to radiation therapy is complex. This review explores molecular markers like p53 and vascular endothelial growth factor, finding mixed results due to the intricate biology of tumor response.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Radiotherapy
Background:
- Cancer treatment response to ionizing radiation is variable and not fully explained by traditional factors.
- Tumor cell biology and host immune/stromal interactions likely influence treatment outcomes.
- Advances in molecular biology enable the search for predictive biomarkers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current literature on molecular markers for predicting cancer response to radiation therapy.
- To summarize findings for key molecular markers and identify research gaps.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies examining molecular markers in relation to radiation therapy response.
- Analysis of genetic alterations and protein expression including p53, Cyclin D1, epidermal growth factor receptor, bcl-2, Ki-67, and vascular endothelial growth factor.
Main Results:
- Results for individual molecular markers (e.g., p53, Ki-67, vascular endothelial growth factor) in predicting radiation response are often mixed.
- The complexity of tumor biology and host factors contributes to the heterogeneity of treatment outcomes.
- No single marker has consistently demonstrated predictive power.
Conclusions:
- Predicting radiation therapy response requires understanding complex biological interactions.
- Further research is needed to identify reliable molecular markers and combinations thereof.
- Integrating molecular data with clinical information may improve personalized treatment strategies.
