miRNA in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: promising but still distant future of personalized oncology

Joanna Kozłowska-Masłoń; Kacper Guglas; Tomasz Kolenda; Katarzyna Lamperska; Izabela Makałowska

doi:10.5603/rpor.96666

miRNA in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: promising but still distant future of personalized oncology

Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2023 Nov 16;28(5):681-697. doi: 10.5603/rpor.96666. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Joanna Kozłowska-Masłoń^{1

2}, Kacper Guglas^{1

3}, Tomasz Kolenda^{1

4}, Katarzyna Lamperska^{1

4}, Izabela Makałowska²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Greater oland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland.
² Institute of Human Biology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland.
³ Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
⁴ Research and Implementation Unit, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland.

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common and fatal cancers worldwide. Lack of appropriate preventive screening tests, late detection, and high heterogeneity of these tumors are the main reasons for the unsatisfactory effects of therapy and, consequently, unfavorable outcomes for patients. An opportunity to improve the quality of diagnostics and treatment of this group of cancers are microRNAs (miRNAs) - molecules with a great potential both as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This review aims to present the characteristics of these short non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and summarize the current reports on their use in oncology focused on medical strategies tailored to patients' needs.

Keywords: HNSCC; biomarkers; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; miRNA; therapeutic targets.

Publication types

Review