Convenient Saliva Test Could Predict Head and Neck Cancer Recurrence

A study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of soluble CD44 and total protein (TP) as biomarkers for monitoring head and neck cancer recurrence. Here, patients were monitored using a point-of-care (POC) salivary test and laboratory-based assays for CD44 and TP levels.

Both CD44 and TP levels were associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence. CD44 was found to be a particularly promising biomarker. The POC test for CD44 and TP showed potential, but further development is needed.

The study suggests that measuring CD44 and TP levels in saliva could be a valuable tool for monitoring head and neck cancer recurrence and identifying patients at high risk of disease progression.

Here, Elizabeth Franzmann, MD, professor of Otolaryngology and director of head and neck research at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, discusses the next steps in this research and the implications of these findings.

Transcription:

0:05 | I think that moving forward, we will want to look at, first of all, combining the markers. We've looked at them individually, combining them to see what the prediction is. And then, you know, this is the first study in this, in this of this type of work, and so we would want to validate our findings before making official recommendations or seeking regulatory approval.

0:25 | if these cancers are caught early, they are very treatable. It's a little harder after a recurrence, but still very treatable. If, if someone's been through radiation and chemo from from oropharyngeal cancer. It's tough. It's a it's a tough road, and there's a lot of side effects from that, and it's hard to hear that. Oh, you may have to go through something again, or through more more treatment. But I think the the upside of this is that if we catch it earlier, we can treat it with less invasive and morbid treatments and have a better chance of cure.