Cancer stem cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the 6th most common cancer worldwide. Despite advances in diagnostic and treatment modalities, overall survival has not significantly changed over the last 30-years. Better understanding of the molecular patho-physiology of HNSCC may allow the introduction of novel diagnostic and therapeutic modalities that could impact survival. At the cellular level, cancer stem cells represent the mechanism for cancer tumorigenesis, metastasis and treatment failure. Head and neck cancer stem cells are a subpopulation of cancer cells with the unique ability for tumorigenesis, self renewal and the ability to recapitulate the heterogeneity of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Head and neck cancer stem cells have been shown to have a higher capacity for tumorigenesis and have greater metastatic potential in-vitro and in-vivo. In addition their slow growth and ability to survive adverse conditions makes them a great candidate as mediators of treatment resistance and cancer recurrence. Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of head and neck cancer stem cells may allow more targeted therapies and improved survival.