Cancer Stem Cells: A Review of the Literature and the Implications in Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

In the last few decades, stem cells have been the focus of researchers in an effort to understand the molecular pathways involved in tissue regeneration. By studying normal cell interactions, researchers have since identified cancer stem cells and demonstrated their role in tumorigenesis and metastasis. The authors aimed to review the major molecular pathways involved in tumorigenesis, the role of cancer stem cells, and emerging therapies that target these pathways in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.