Circular ribonucleic acid (circRNA) vaccines have emerged as a revolutionary strategy in cancer immunotherapy, facilitating novel approaches to induce robust and durable immune responses. Unlike traditional linear messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, circRNAs exhibit exceptional stability, enhanced translational efficiency, and resistance to exonuclease degradation, making them ideal candidates for vaccine development. This review delved into the fundamental principles underlying circRNA biology, highlighting their unique structural advantages and translational potential. We examined recent advancements in circRNA vaccine design, focusing on their application in oncology. As the circRNA-based cancer vaccine is a relatively novel technology, findings from all the major studies describing its efficacy were discussed. We further investigated their combination with other immunotherapeutic modalities, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies, that ensure the maximal anticancer effects of circRNA vaccines. Large-scale manufacturing, immunogenicity optimization, delivery systems, and other challenges and future directions in this field were also discussed. This study aims to thoroughly analyze the state-of-the-art and potential future applications of circRNA vaccines in cancer immunotherapy, highlighting them as exciting possibilities for next-generation cancer therapies.

Head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a complex malignancy characterized by a highly heterogeneous tumor microenvironment (TME) that influences tumor progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Despite significant advancements in understanding HNSCC at the molecular level, comprehensive analyses of TME-related research within this domain remain limited. Hence, this study presents a bibliometric analysis of TME research in HNSCC, synthesizing data on publication trends, citation patterns, collaborative networks, and emerging research themes. The findings reveal an exponential growth in TME-related publications, reflecting a rising focus on immunotherapy, stromal biology, and molecular biomarkers. Medicine and molecular biology dominate the research output, with interdisciplinary collaborations contributing to innovative therapeutic strategies. Key themes include immune resistance, extracellular matrix modulation, and the role of stromal components, like cancer-associated fibroblasts, in shaping therapeutic outcomes. Emerging topics, such as novel cell death pathways (e.g., cuproptosis and pyroptosis) and artificial intelligence-driven prognostics, highlight future directions. Citation networks emphasize the centrality of immunotherapy and precision medicine, with leading institutions and journals playing pivotal roles in advancing the field. This analysis underscores the importance of interdisciplinary research and highlights critical gaps, offering a roadmap for future investigations to improve clinical outcomes through targeted TME manipulation in HNSCC.