Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41422030›Full record

ArticleJournal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR2025

miRquad: first-in-class dPCR multiplex TaqMan™ Advanced clinical research assay for microRNA detection in head and neck cancer.

Matteo Allegretti, David J Joun, Giulia Urbani, Valentina De Pascale, Federica Ganci, Raul Pellini, Giada Anna Beltramini, Stefano Ferrero, Stefano Fiori, Tania Moccia and 15 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

25 authors.

Matteo Allegretti *Translational Oncology Research Unit, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3398-8775
David J JounThermo Fisher Scientific, Carlsbad, USA.
Giulia Urbani *Translational Oncology Research Unit, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-1343-3415
Valentina De PascaleTranslational Oncology Research Unit, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1015-8867
Federica GanciTranslational Oncology Research Unit, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8010-2183
Raul PelliniOtolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6051-3041
Giada Anna BeltraminiDivision of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4351-0276
Stefano FerreroDivision of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3715-0737
Stefano FioriDivision of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Tania Moccia *Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0463-9552
Chiara Ciardiello *Neoplastic Progression Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2042-8672
Elena Di Gennaro *Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6223-7845
Alfredo Budillon *Scientific Directorate, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6330-6053
Luca Sigalotti *Oncogenetics and Functional Oncogenomics, Centro Di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1436-2358
Roberta Maestro *Oncogenetics and Functional Oncogenomics, Centro Di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6642-5592
Mario Urtis *Centre for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3289-9228
Eloisa Arbustini *Centre for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2948-7994
Simona De Summa *Experimental Pharmacology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9607-3754
Amalia Azzariti *Experimental Pharmacology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6149-5049
Stella Gagliardi *IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6589-6907
Antonio Pisani *IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
Gennaro CilibertoScientific Directorate, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2851-8605
Paola Cornelia Maria MutiDivision of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0339-8520
Junko F StevensThermo Fisher Scientific, Carlsbad, USA.
Giovanni Blandino *Translational Oncology Research Unit, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy. giovanni.blandino@ifo.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6970-2241

Funding

Fondazione AIRC per la ricerca sul cancro ETS IG 29040Ministero della Salute PNC E3-2022-23683266
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCancer resistance is one of the major challenges in oncology, often resulting in disease relapse and poor patient outcomes. Within the RNA family, microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate core biological processes and have been recognized also as critical contributors of tumor resistance and therapy failure. Being pivotal, they are increasingly exploited as biomarkers in various settings. Although in silico analyses facilitate miRNAs identification, PCR-based approaches remain essential to validate their expression. Currently, a plethora of well-established, single-target methods exist but multiplex detection from the same input have been only rarely explored.

methodsWe present miRquad, the first-in-class digital PCR (dPCR) TaqMan™ multiplex clinical research assay for miRNA detection in head and neck (HNC) cancers. Based on a patented prognostic signature including miR-21-5p, miR-96-5p, miR-21-3p and miR-429, the assay would enable simultaneous miRNA analysis via qPCR and dPCR on multiple clinically relevant sample types.

resultsWe designed and optimized miRquad using both synthetic controls and retrospective patient-derived tissues, sera and saliva. A multicentre ring study was conducted to evaluate assay reliability across different platforms, demonstrating strong correlation with commercial singleplexes, broad applicability, reduced turnaround time (TAT) and cost-effectiveness. Finally, we provide evidence for its potential clinical application to predict disease outcome in HNC, testing miRquad on tumoral and peritumoral tissues, sera and saliva samples collected throughout patient follow up.

conclusionsThe assay overcomes common challenges associated with multiple miRNAs detection, particularly in liquid biopsy samples (e.g., multiple pipetting issues, increased consumption of sample for multiple assessment, extended TAT for complete profiling) and provides robust and accurate detection, demonstrating potential for real-time patient monitoring and prognostication in HNC.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorHead and Neck NeoplasmsMicroRNAsFemaleHumansMalePrognosisBiomarkers, TumorMicroRNAsDigital PCRHead and neck cancersLiquid biopsyMicroRNAMultiplex assay

Identifiers

PMID41422030
PMCPMC12853808

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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.