Diagnostic Value of Salivary miRNA in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Jeong Wook Kang, Young‐Gyu Eun, Young Chan Lee
Abstract
Several studies have highlighted the diagnostic potential of salivary microRNA (miRNA) in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to summarize published studies and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of salivary miRNA in HNSCC detection. In this meta-analysis, we systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for studies on miRNA and HNSCC diagnosis. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) with a summary receiver-operating characteristic curve were calculated using a bivariate random-effect meta-analysis model. Furthermore, subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the main sources of heterogeneity. Seventeen studies from ten articles, including 23 miRNA and a total of 759 subjects, were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of salivary miRNA in the diagnosis of HNSCC were 0.697 (95% CI: 0.644-0.744) and 0.868 (95% CI: 0.811-0.910), respectively. The overall area under the curve was 0.803 with a DOR of 12.915 (95% CI: 9.512-17.534). Salivary miRNAs are a promising non-invasive diagnostic biomarker with moderate accuracy for HNSCC. These results must be verified by large-scale prospective studies.