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Updated: Jul 10, 2025

Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics
Published on: May 11, 2016
Tumor budding is a prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A comprehensive meta-analysis and
Fábio França Vieira E Silva1, Vito Carlo Alberto Caponio2, Mario Pérez-Sayáns1
1Oral Medicine, Oral Surgery and Implantology Unit (MedOralRes), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; ORALRES Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (FIDIS), 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Background:
Mortality is linked to tumor budding (TB) in certain neoplasms. TB as a relevant histopathological feature is conditioned by tumor site, a specific study on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is needed.
Methods:
A comprehensive meta-analysis was undertaken to investigate the relationship between TB and HNSCC-related outcomes.
Results:
Overall 42 studies were included. Patients harboring high TB reported an Overall Survival (OS) Hazard Ratio (HR) of 2.63 (95% confidential interval (CI) 2.04-3.39; p-value < 0.001), Disease-free Survival (DFS) HR of 1.88 (95%CI 1.57-2.24; p-value <0.001) and Disease-specific Survival (DSS) HR of 2.14 (95%CI 1.81-2.52; p-value <0.001). Lymph Node Metastasis (LNM) studies harbored null heterogeneity and marked association with TB (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.48, 95%CI 2.97-6.76; p-value < 0.001). Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA) supported definitive results for DSS.
Conclusion:
The study has provided compelling evidence that there is a significant association between TB and a worse prognosis for HNSCC.
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