Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41108912›Full record

SynthesisOral oncology2025

Circulating tumor DNA in Non-Viral head and neck squamous cell Carcinoma: A systematic review and Meta-Analysis.

Vanessa Helou, Nana-Hawwa Abdul-Rahman, Suet Kee Loo, Shou-Jiang Gao, Jose P Zevallos, Dan P Zandberg, Matthew E Spector, Heath D Skinner, Robert L Ferris, Kevin J Contrera

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Oral oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. 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

10 authors.

Vanessa HelouDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Nana-Hawwa Abdul-RahmanSchool of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Suet Kee LooUPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
Shou-Jiang GaoUPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
Jose P ZevallosDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
Dan P ZandbergUPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
Matthew E SpectorDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
Heath D SkinnerDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
Robert L FerrisUNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Kevin J ContreraDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA. Electronic address: contrerakj@upmc.edu.

Funding

WILD TYPE P53-BASED ADJUVANT IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR SCCHNP50CA097190 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI Heath Devin Skinner · 2004 to 2026
$49.6M
Institutional Career Development CoreKL2TR001856 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI RAY, KRISTIN N, RUBIO, DORIS M · 2016 to 2025
$13.8M
NCATS NIH HHS KL2 TR001856NCI NIH HHS P50 CA097190
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Non-viral head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has poor survival and high recurrence rates. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising biomarker for understanding tumor biology, assessing treatment response, and monitoring disease progression. While extensively studied in virally mediated HNSCC, its role in non-viral HNSCC remains underexplored. This systematic review and meta-analysis consolidates evidence on the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value of ctDNA in non-viral HNSCC. A systematic search across Medline, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library identified 1,915 records, of which 47 were included. Data extraction followed PRISMA guidelines, with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS), pooled as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a fixed-effect model. Among 3,574 patients, the most common tumor sites were the oral cavity (35 %) and oropharynx (22 %), with the majority presenting with stage IVA/IVB disease (29 %). Pre-treatment ctDNA detection rates ranged from 50 % to 100 % (median: 83 %), while post-treatment detection rates varied between 28 % and 100 % (median: 48 %). ctDNA detected recurrence in 80 % of patients, with a median lead time of 4.6 months. ctDNA detection was significantly associated with worse OS (HR 10.26, 95 % CI 3.58-29.40; P < 0.0001). Residual ctDNA was strongly correlated with worse PFS (HR 7.32, 95 % CI 4.17-12.86; P < 0.00001) and RFS (HR 7.33, 95 % CI 2.75-19.58; P < 0.0001). ctDNA holds potential for improving diagnostic accuracy, monitoring progression, and predicting survival outcomes in non-viral HNSCC. However, further large-scale studies and standardized guidelines are needed for validation and clinical implementation.

Indexed as

Circulating Tumor DNAHead and Neck NeoplasmsSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckBiomarkers, TumorHumansNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalPrognosisBiomarkers, TumorCirculating Tumor DNAcirculating tumor DNA (ctDNA)Head and neck cancerHead and neck neoplasmHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)Head and neck tumorLiquid biopsyPrecision medicine

Identifiers

PMID41108912
PMCPMC13299305

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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.