Small extravesicular microRNA in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and its potential as a liquid biopsy for early detection

BACKGROUND: The objective was to assess secretion of small extracellular vesicular microRNA (exo‐miRNA) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) according to human papillomavirus (HPV) status, and determine the translational potential as a liquid biopsy for early detection. METHODS: This study employed a combination of cell culture and case–control study design using archival pretreatment serum. Small extracellular vesicles (sEV) were isolated from conditioned culture media and human serum samples via differential ultracentrifugation. miRNA‐sequencing was performed on each sEV isolate. RESULTS: There were clear exo‐miRNA profiles that distinguished HNSCC cell lines from nonpathologic oral epithelial control cells. While there was some overlap among profiles across all samples, there were apparent differences in exo‐miRNA profiles according to HPV‐status. Importantly, differential exo‐miRNA profiles were also apparent in serum from early‐stage HNSCC cases relative to cancer‐free controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that exo‐miRNA are highly dysregulated in HNSCC and support the potential of exo‐miRNA as biomarkers for HNSCC.