Introduction: The increase in the number of new head and neck cancer (HNC) cases is expected in the coming decades; therefore, an investigation of novel and noninvasive markers for tumor detection, prediction and prognosis is an urgency for cancer management. Among the putative and universal markers of the tumor, microRNAs (miRNAs) seem to be the most promising.Areas covered: In the following review paper, the recent studies analyzing potential utility of blood circulating miRNAs for HNC diagnosis, prediction, and prognosis were summarized and discussed.Expert opinion: Circulating miRNAs demonstrate numerous advantages and potentially high applicability in routine clinical practice for HNC diagnosis, prediction, and prognosis. However, currently the particular attention should be devoted to the disadvantages, such as methodological aspects, number of known miRNAs, tumor heterogeneity or tests validation and possible ways of their solution.

中文翻译：

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检测、预测和预后：血液循环 microRNA 作为头颈癌患者的新型分子标志物。

简介：预计未来几十年新发头颈癌 (HNC) 病例数将增加；因此，研究用于肿瘤检测、预测和预后的新型非侵入性标志物是癌症管理的当务之急。在肿瘤的假定和通用标志物中，微小 RNA (miRNA) 似乎是最有前途的。 涵盖的领域：在以下评论论文中，总结了最近分析血液循环 miRNA 在 HNC 诊断、预测和预后方面的潜在效用的研究专家意见：循环 miRNA 在 HNC 诊断、预测和预后的常规临床实践中显示出众多优势和潜在的高度适用性。然而，目前应特别注意缺点，例如方法学方面、