Genomic profiling of head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a common malignancy often associated with an aggressive clinical course and a wide array of gene mutations. This systematic review aimed to determine the prevalence of these mutations and their association with prognosis and recurrence in ACC. A search of the scientific literature was carried out from inception till 31 July 2024 in the electronic databases - PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Ovid/MEDLINE, and Science direct following specific eligibility criteria. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa tool. 31 studies were included, and numerous genes like MYB, NOTCH, TP53, PIK3CA, ARID1A, KDM6A, RAS, SPEN, and many more were identified and were related to poor prognosis. Identification of different genes using wide NGS panels and combination of molecular techniques becomes necessary as multiple genes might be involved in ACC pathogenesis and subsequent targeted therapies can be designed.