Liquid Biopsy in HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent cancer globally.
• HPV-positive HNSCC represents a distinct subtype with unique characteristics.
• Current diagnostic methods for HNSCC have limitations, including invasiveness and difficulty in assessing disease recurrence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential of liquid biopsy for diagnosing, monitoring treatment, and surveilling HPV-associated HNSCC.
• To assess advancements and challenges in liquid biopsy technologies for HPV-positive HNSCC.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of literature from PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science.
• Focused on original research and reviews of liquid biopsy applications in HPV-positive HNSCC.
• Evaluated studies based on design robustness, clinical relevance, and analytical performance.

Main Results:

• Liquid biopsy (circulating HPV DNA, ctDNA, extracellular vesicles) demonstrated high sensitivity (90-95%) and specificity (>98%) for HPV-positive HNSCC detection.
• Enabled real-time monitoring of tumor dynamics, early recurrence detection, and insights into treatment resistance.
• Biomarker clearance during treatment correlated strongly with patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Liquid biopsy is a transformative, minimally invasive tool for HPV-associated HNSCC, providing real-time tumor insights.
• Challenges in standardization and clinical implementation exist but are being addressed by ongoing research.
• Liquid biopsy holds promise for personalized cancer care and improved patient outcomes in HPV-positive HNSCC.