lncRNA EGOT Is the Marker of HPV Infection and a Prognostic Factor for HNSCC Patients

Background: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) contributes to oropharyngeal cancers through mechanisms involving the deregulation of host cell functions by oncoproteins E6 and E7. Changes in the epigenome, particularly involving long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are crucial for understanding HPV-related carcinogenesis. Methods: This study aimed to analyze the expression levels of lncRNAs in HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to determine their biological and clinical significance, addressing the current gap in clinically validated biomarkers for early screening and therapeutic interventions. Results: The study highlights the significant overexpression of the EGOT gene in HPV-positive HNSCC samples, suggesting its potential as a marker to distinguish between HPV-negative and HPV-positive cases. Furthermore, high EGOT expression correlates with better overall survival (OS) and indicates possible resistance to therapy, making it a valuable prognostic factor. Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of incorporating EGOT expression analysis in clinical practice for improved patient stratification and treatment outcomes in HNSCC.