Development of a multiomics database for personalized prognostic forecasting in head and neck cancer: The Big Data to Decide EU Project

Head Neck. 2021 Feb;43(2):601-612. doi: 10.1002/hed.26515. Epub 2020 Oct 27.

Abstract

Background: Despite advances in treatments, 30% to 50% of stage III-IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients relapse within 2 years after treatment. The Big Data to Decide (BD2Decide) project aimed to build a database for prognostic prediction modeling.

Methods: Stage III-IV HNSCC patients with locoregionally advanced HNSCC treated with curative intent (1537) were included. Whole transcriptomics and radiomics analyses were performed using pretreatment tumor samples and computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging scans, respectively.

Results: The entire cohort was composed of 71% male (1097)and 29% female (440): oral cavity (429, 28%), oropharynx (624, 41%), larynx (314, 20%), and hypopharynx (170, 11%); median follow-up 50.5 months. Transcriptomics and imaging data were available for 1284 (83%) and 1239 (80%) cases, respectively; 1047 (68%) patients shared both.

Conclusions: This annotated database represents the HNSCC largest available repository and will enable to develop/validate a decision support system integrating multiscale data to explore through classical and machine learning models their prognostic role.

Keywords: big data; head and neck cancer; prognostic models; radiomics; transcriptomics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Big Data*
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics
  • Prognosis
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / diagnostic imaging
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / genetics