SynthesisBMC cancer2025
Prognostic impact of Fusobacterium nucleatum in head and neck cancers: a meta-analysis of critical oncological outcomes.
Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- The Silent Link: Exploring the Impact of Periodontal Diseases on Head and Neck Carcinogenesis.Clinical and experimental dental research · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIt's a well-established fact that Fusobacterium nucleatum has been implicated in the pathogenesis and prognosis of several malignancies, but its role in head and neck cancers remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the evidence on the prognostic impact of Fusobacterium abundance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
methodsA comprehensive literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase was performed from inception to January 1, 2000, to October 15, 2025. Studies evaluating the association between Fusobacterium and oncological outcomes in HNSCC were included. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were pooled using random and fixed-effects models. Methodological quality was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and reporting adhered to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The study protocol was prospectively registered in INPLASY (Registration ID: INPLASY2025110054).
resultsA total of six studies met the inclusion criteria, and five studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. The pooled analysis demonstrated a significant association between high Fusobacterium abundance and improved OS (random-effects model: HR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.38-0.95, p = 0.03; I² = 37.6%; fixed-effects model: HR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.43-0.87, p = 0.01; I² = 40.2%) and DSS (random-effects model: HR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.19-0.61, p < 0.001; I² = 41.6%,; fixed-effects model: HR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.24-0.56, p < 0.001; I² = 40.1%) in patients with HNSCC. Heterogeneity was low-to-moderate, and no significant small study effect was detected based on funnel plot inspection.
conclusionsThis meta-analysis suggests that Fusobacterium nucleatum abundance is significantly associated with better OS and DSS in patients with head and neck cancers. Fusobacterium nucleatum may be a potentially useful prognostic biomarker; however, this interpretation should be made with caution due to the limited evidence base, small number of studies, and residual heterogeneity. Taken together, further validation in large-scale, prospective studies is required and critical.
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