title: Diagnostic accuracy of serum biomarkers for head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: Serum biomarkers could be helpful to characterize head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Thus, the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the diagnostic capability of serum biomarkers in the assessment of HNSCC patients. Studies were gathered by searching LILACS, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science up to April 10th, 2015. Studies that focused on serum biomarkers in the diagnosis of HNSCC compared with controls were considered. Sixty-five studies were identified, and the sample size included 9098 subjects. Combined biomarkers demonstrated improved accuracy than those tested individually. Therefore, 12.8% of single and 34.3% of combined indicated that serum biomarkers discriminate patients with HNSCC from controls. The combined biomarkers with better diagnostic capability included Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)+Cyclin D1 and squamous cell cancer-associated antigen (SCCA)+EGFR+Cyclin D1. Beta2-microglobin may also be a promising single biomarker for future studies. Serum biomarkers can be potentially useful in the diagnosis of HNSCC. However, further research is required to validate these biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Oral Histopathology Laboratory, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil. Electronic address: elieteneves@unb.br.
authors.forename: Eliete Neves Silva
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Oral Histopathology Laboratory, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Fortunato
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Rêgo
authors.affiliation: Oral Histopathology Laboratory, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Taveira
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Coletta
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Brazilian Centre for Evidence-Based Research, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luis André Mendonça
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mezzomo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gozal
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Brazilian Centre for Evidence-Based Research, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil; School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Graziela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Luca Canto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Biological markers; Diagnosis; Head and neck cancer; Meta-analysis; Serum; Systematic review