We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
INTEGRA BIOSCIENCES AG

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. serves customers who are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytica... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App




Events

09 Apr 2024 - 12 Apr 2024
15 Apr 2024 - 17 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 - 26 Apr 2024

MicroRNA-Based Liquid Biopsy Assay for Early Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 09 Sep 2020
Print article
Image: Illustration depicting tumor formation in the tissues of the oropharynx (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Image: Illustration depicting tumor formation in the tissues of the oropharynx (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
A microRNA-based liquid biopsy assay has been developed that enables early diagnosis of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, a disease causing hundreds of thousands of fatalities each year.

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), also known as tonsil cancer or head and neck cancer, is a disease in which abnormal cells with the potential to both grow locally and metastasize to other parts of the body are found in the tissue of the part of the throat (oropharynx) that includes the base of the tongue, the tonsils, the soft palate, and the walls of the pharynx. The two types of oropharyngeal cancers are HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, which is caused by an oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection; and HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancer, which is linked to use of alcohol, tobacco, or both. OPSCC is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage, since the disease often causes minimal symptoms other than metastasis to neck lymph nodes.

Tumor cells release microRNA (miRNA)-containing small extracellular vesicles into their extracellular environment and these vesicles are present in circulating blood. Thus, the miRNA content of circulating small extracellular vesicles has the potential to provide a unique molecular signature for multiple possibilities such as diagnosis, prognosis and surveillance of cancers.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which include exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, are cell-derived lipid-bilayer-enclosed structures, with sizes ranging from 30 to 5,000 nanometers. The vesicles, which contain RNA, proteins, lipids, and metabolites that are reflective of the cell type of origin, are either released from the cell when multivesicular bodies (MVBs) fuse with the plasma membrane, or they are released directly from the plasma membrane.

Previous studies have suggested that MiRNAs are potential biomarkers for early head and neck squamous cell cancer diagnosis, prognosis, recurrence, and presence of metastatic disease. However, there is no widespread agreement on a panel of miRNAs with clinically meaningful utility for head and neck squamous cell cancers. This could be due to variations in the collection, storage, pre-processing, and isolation of RNA, but several reports have indicated that the selection and reproducibility of biomarkers has been widely affected by the methods used for data analysis. The primary analysis issues appear to be model overfitting and the incorrect application of statistical techniques.

Seeking better tools for diagnosis of head and neck cancer, investigators at Flinders University (Adelaide, Australia) developed a robust statistical approach to identify a miRNA signature that can distinguish controls and patients with inflammatory disease from patients with human papilloma virus positive (HPV+) OPSCC.

For this study, the investigators harvested small extracellular vesicles from the serum of 20 control patients, 20 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD), and 40 patients with locally advanced HPV+ OPSCC. MicroRNAs were purified, and expression profiled using ThermoFisher Scientific (Waltham, MA, USA) OpenArray technology. A novel cross validation method, using lasso regression, was developed to stabilize selection of miRNAs for inclusion in a prediction model. The method, named StaVarSel (for Stable Variable Selection), was used to derive a diagnostic biomarker signature.

Results revealed that a standard cross validation approach was unable to produce a biomarker signature with good cross validated predictive capacity. In contrast, StaVarSel produced a regression model containing 11 miRNA ratios with potential clinical utility.

Senior author Dr. Damian Hussey, a researcher in medicine and public health at Flinders University, said, "MicroRNAs are potential biomarkers for early head and neck squamous cell cancer diagnosis, prognosis, recurrence, and presence of metastatic disease. However, there is no widespread agreement on a panel of miRNAs with clinically meaningful utility for head and neck squamous cell cancers."

The liquid biopsy diagnostic assay for head and neck cancer was described in the July 10, 2020, online edition of the Journal of Translational Medicine.

Related Links:
Flinders University
ThermoFisher Scientific


Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
HLX
POCT Fluorescent Immunoassay Analyzer
FIA Go
Gold Member
Xylazine Immunoassay Test
Xylazine ELISA

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The low-cost portable device rapidly identifies chemotherapy patients at risk of sepsis (Photo courtesy of 52North Health)

POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The medical office procedure detects the key biomarker in Parkinson’s and related neurodegenerative diseases (Photo courtesy of BIDMC)

Simple Skin Biopsy Test Detects Parkinson’s and Related Neurodegenerative Diseases

Parkinson's disease and a group of related neurodegenerative disorders known as synucleinopathies impact millions globally. These conditions, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.