Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40114519›Full record

ReviewHead & neck2025

Emerging Proximal Liquid Biopsy Approaches for Detecting Residual Disease and Predicting Recurrence in Head and Neck Cancer: A Review and Proposal of Novel Liquid Staging.

Vanessa Helou, Joshua D Smith, Micah Harris, Noah Earland, Kevin J Contrera, Aadel A Chaudhuri, Jose P Zevallos

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Head & neck, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Vanessa HelouDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4826-1659
Joshua D SmithDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2076-7589
Micah HarrisDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Noah EarlandDivision of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Kevin J ContreraDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2570-1706
Aadel A ChaudhuriDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Jose P ZevallosDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-9111-6767

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma remains challenging due to high recurrence rates and poor survival outcomes. Developing precise technologies for disease burden assessment, treatment response, and minimal residual disease (MRD) surveillance is crucial for improving prognosis.

methodsThis review explores the potential of liquid biopsy for MRD and recurrence detection. A novel liquid TNM (LiTNM) staging system is introduced, integrating biomarkers from saliva, surgical drain lymphatic fluid (SLF), and peripheral blood.

resultsProximal liquid biopsies, particularly saliva and SLF, offer advantages due to their proximity to the tumor microenvironment. Saliva demonstrates high sensitivity in HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers, while SLF holds potential in identifying early postoperative recurrence. Despite these advancements, standardization and validation remain challenges.

conclusionsLiquid biopsy approaches show promise for postoperative disease monitoring, yet their clinical implementation remains in the early stages. The proposed LiTNM staging system could complement TNM staging by providing a molecular framework for risk stratification. However, rigorous prospective studies are necessary to validate its clinical utility and facilitate adoption.

Indexed as

Head and Neck NeoplasmsNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalNeoplasm, ResidualSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckBiomarkers, TumorHumansLiquid BiopsyNeoplasm StagingPrognosisSalivaBiomarkers, Tumorhead and neck squamous cell carcinomaliquid biopsyminimal residual diseasesaliva liquid biopsysurgical drain fluid liquid biopsy

Identifiers

PMID40114519
PMCPMC12068541

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.