Multi-Omics Biomarkers in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Biological Insights and Clinical Translation: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Simple Summary Head and neck cancer remains a major health problem, and patients with apparently similar tumors may have very different disease courses and responses to treatment. One reason is the considerable biological variation among these tumors, which cannot be fully understood by examining a single molecular feature. In this review, we discuss studies that combine different types of molecular information to better understand head and neck cancer and identify markers with possible clinical value. The available evidence indicates that tumor development and treatment resistance involve interconnected changes in genes, gene activity, proteins, metabolism, and the cells surrounding the tumor. Recent methods have also provided a more detailed view of the different cell populations present within the same tumor. Despite the large number of potential markers reported, few are currently used in clinical practice. Many findings have not been confirmed in independent groups of patients, and differences between laboratory and analytical methods remain a problem. Further clinical studies using standardized methods are needed to determine which molecular markers can provide useful information for patient care and help doctors make better treatment decisions.