920P - Genomic landscape of head and neck cancer in Asia: A comprehensive meta-analysis of 1016 samples

Background

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a complex disease with diverse genomic alterations. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) accounts for more than 90 % of head and neck malignancies. In addition to known risk factors, certain geographical regions exhibit a higher risk of head and neck cancer, especially the Asian regions. Understanding the genetic landscape of HNC in Asian population is paramount for developing region-specific strategies in clinical management.

Methods

We conducted a meta-analysis of publicly available genomic data from 1016 HNC samples across Asian regions, including India, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. We collated data from all published whole exome and targeted sequencing data on HNSCC till June 2023. We looked at mutational profiles of genes across and within different Asian regions and compared them to the Cancer Genome atlas (TCGA) data. Mutational differences were assessed between smokers and non-smokers and other important clinicopathological features. Additionally, we performed driver gene analysis to identify potential therapeutic targets.

Results

We identified a total of 1746 recurrently mutated genes across all the Asian data. Several notable recurrently mutated genes include TP53, MUC16, NOTCH1, CDKN2A, and CASP8. Mutational profiles between smokers and non-smokers showed altered KRAS signaling. We also identified several new and known mutually exclusive and co-occurring genes across various Asian regions. Pathway analysis showed RAS signaling pathway to be the most predominant cancer-driving pathway in HNC in the Asian cohort. Driver gene analysis revealed potential novel genes with mutations, including RYR2, MMP16, and ANK2, which could serve as potential targets.

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis provides comprehensive insights into the genomic landscape of HNC in the Asian population. The identification of potential therapeutic targets underscores the importance of personalized medicine in the management of HNC. The differences in mutational profiles between smokers and non-smokers highlight the need for tailored treatment approach. Further research is needed to validate these findings and to develop region-specific strategies for the clinical management of HNC in Asian cohort.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.