Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42491718›Full record

ReviewJournal of extracellular biology2026

Extracellular Vesicles in Head and Neck Cancer-A Systematic Review.

Abdallah Swaid, Nadisha Piyarathne, Andrea Holme, David Muirhead, Gabriel Landini, Rasha Abu-Eid

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of extracellular biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

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

6 authors.

Abdallah SwaidSchool of Dentistry University of Birmingham Birmingham UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7770-5893
Nadisha PiyarathneInstitute of Dentistry University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5834-6854
Andrea HolmeInstitute of Medical Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2763-7530
David MuirheadSchool of Geosciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK.
Gabriel LandiniSchool of Dentistry University of Birmingham Birmingham UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9689-0989
Rasha Abu-EidSchool of Dentistry University of Birmingham Birmingham UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6634-0329

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is among the top ten malignancies worldwide and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) predispose to certain HNCs. Recent studies suggest emerging roles of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in malignant transformation and provide potential in the management of HNC. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the role of EVs in HNC and OPMDs. The systematic review followed PRISMA-2020 guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in five electronic databases (Medline, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane and Web of Science), yielding 3705 initial records. Following de-duplication and independent screening, 237 eligible articles were included. Data extraction was performed by two independent reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Thematic analysis with narrative data synthesis was conducted and the results were organised under the following subthemes: EV isolation and characterisation methods, EV role in cancer and OPMDs progression, immune modulation, biomarker potential, and therapeutic applications. Studies included in the review were published between "1985-2025" and showed an accelerated growth in EV research after 2020. Most of the studies relied on traditional isolation and characterisation techniques including ultracentrifugation, transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry. Most evidence was reported from preclinical studies and demonstrated EVs' promise as biomarkers for early detection, prognostication, and therapeutic targets. However, the findings also underscored the need for standardised protocols. Current evidence on EVs' role as drivers of epithelial mesenchymal transition, invasion, immune escape, metabolic reprogramming, and angiogenesis in the pathogenesis of HNC are summarised together with the role of EVs as biomarkers in HNC and potential applications in HNC therapy and therapy resistance. Mechanistic insights into the biological behaviour of EVs in HNC are provided and evidence-based recommendations for future research are proposed in this review.

Indexed as

exosomesextracellular vesicleshead and neck canceroral potentially malignant disorder

Identifiers

PMID42491718
PMCPMC13378098

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Registered trials

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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.