External validation of sTWEAK as a prognostic noninvasive biomarker for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Our study highlights the significance of this noninvasive biomarker in the discrimination according to the disease control achieved by patients who received a nonsurgical organ-preservation treatment. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1358-E1363, 2016.

Review of emerging biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the era of immunotherapy and targeted therapy

“…Blood is a relatively stable body fluid; several serum protein markers have traditionally been used to help predict outcomes in HNSCC patients, including CDK4, midkines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), IL‐2R, and VEGF‐A . However, some are not always cancer‐specific, giving rise to problems in distinguishing between malignant and inflammatory disease …”

“…More recently, markers from liquid biopsies that are directly related to cancer cells or cancer‐produced molecules have been employed, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell‐free DNA (cfDNA)/circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), cfRNA, and exosomes . It is generally accepted that CTCs may play an important role in cancer metastasis .…”

“…188 However, some are not always cancer-specific, giving rise to problems in distinguishing between malignant and inflammatory disease. [189][190][191][192] More recently, markers from liquid biopsies that are directly related to cancer cells or cancer-produced molecules have been employed, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs), 147,[150][151][152][153][154][155][156][157][158][159][160][161][162][163][164]193,194 cell-free DNA (cfDNA)/ circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), [187][188][189][190][191][192]195,196 cfRNA, 184 and exosomes. [196][197][198] It is generally accepted that CTCs may play an important role in cancer metastasis.…”

Serum Soluble TWEAK Concentration is Decreased in Patients with Hepatocellular Cancer and Low Blood Levels of sTWEAK are Associated with Poor Survival.

“…There are studies in the literature reporting the association of low serum sTWEAK concentrations with poor outcomes in other cancers but to our knowledge, this is the first study in the literature reporting the association of serum sTWEAK concentration with mortality in HCC patients. 24,25 There are certain limitations of the current study. First, sample size was relatively small.…”

Prognostic relevance of insulin resistance on disease‐free survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: Preliminary results

“…11 Other possible explanations for the increased risk of cancer includes obesity-related insulin resistance 12 and cytokine production. [13][14][15] Cancer growth might be directly influenced through promotion of angiogenesis 16,17 or by inducing a host inflammatory response, 18 in which chronic inflammation associated with dysglycemia results in a proangiogenic and antiapoptotic microenvironment. 9 Furthermore, cells from some tumors use an altered metabolic pattern compared to the normal differentiated adult cells in the body, which is known as the Warburg effect.…”