Biomarkers of Laryngeal Cancer: Innovations in Diagnosis

Laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC) is one of the most frequent tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract. Major risk factors for this disease include tobacco and alcohol consumption. The traditional diagnosis methods, including palpation, laryngoscopy, and imaging, are invasive and inaccurate. In addition, most cases symptoms are only present in the advanced stages. Therefore, more accurate and direct diagnostic methods are required for better and earlier diagnosis.[۱,۲] Since cancer cells undergo various alterations in genetic sequence, proteomics, and transcriptome profiles, identifying these changes can help detect cancerous tissues. This information can also aid in choosing better treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes by predicting responses to various treatments. Currently studied markers include various genes and proteins involved in cell adhesion, invasion, differentiation, and proliferation, as well as non-coding RNAs, both in the tissue and bodily fluids.[۲,۳] In regard to coding genes, tumor suppressor genes (e.g., p۵۳), cell cycle regulators (e.g., cyclin D۱), apoptosis regulators (e.g., Bcl-۲), stem cell markers (CD۴۴), growth factors and their receptors (e.g. EGFR), and extracellular matrix interacting proteins (e.g. cortactin and FAK) have been extensively researched. The findings regarding some proteins are contradictory and do not align with research on other cancer types. Most consistent markers are cyclin D۱, CD۴۴, cortactin, and FAK over-expression in tumor cells.[۴,۵] Other research has also focused on non-coding RNA levels as biomarker, finding lncRNA and miRNA dysregulation in cancer cells. MiR-۶۵۷ and miR-۱۲۸۷ levels taken together are reliable biomarkers. Additionally, miR-۱۳۳b downregulation and miR-۱۵۵ upregulation each could serve as a diagnostic biomarker.[۲,۶] There have also been efforts to discover circulating biomarkers accessible through bodily fluids. These markers are of importance since they do not necessitate tissue biopsy. Increased levels of HOTAIR, miR-۲۱, miR-۱۵۵, miR-۶۳۲, or lncRNA UCA۱ in the serum may serve as independent potential biomarkers for LSCC.[۲,۶] ۱. Liberale, C., et al., Updates on Larynx Cancer: Risk Factors and Oncogenesis. Int J Mol Sci, ۲۰۲۳. ۲۴(۱۶). ۲. Falco, M., et al., Overview on Molecular Biomarkers for Laryngeal Cancer: Looking for New Answers to an Old Problem. Cancers (Basel), ۲۰۲۲. ۱۴(۷). ۳. Santos, M. and E. Monteiro, Time between Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypopharynx and Larynx Cancer: Are Longer Delays Associated with Higher Discrepancy between Clinical and Pathological Staging? Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol, ۲۰۲۱. ۲۵(۱): p. e۱۰۸-e۱۱۴. ۴. Cavaliere, M., et al. (۲۰۲۱). Biomarkers of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a review. Annals of diagnostic pathology, ۵۴, ۱۵۱۷۸۷. https://doi.org/۱۰.۱۰۱۶/j.anndiagpath.۲۰۲۱.۱۵۱۷۸۷ ۵. Rodrigo, J. P., et al. (۲۰۱۲). Biomarkers predicting malignant progression of laryngeal epithelial precursor lesions: a systematic review. European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, ۲۶۹(۴), ۱۰۷۳–۱۰۸۳. https://doi.org/۱۰.۱۰۰۷/s۰۰۴۰۵-۰۱۱-۱۸۳۱-۴ ۶.Li P, et al. MicroRNAs in laryngeal cancer: implications for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Am J Transl Res. ۲۰۱۶ May ۱۵;۸(۵):۱۹۳۵-۴۴. PMID: ۲۷۳۴۷۳۰۴; PMCID: PMC۴۸۹۱۴۰۹

کلیدواژه ها:

laryngeal cancer ، biomarkers ، non-coding RNA ، micro RNA