A Quest for Initiating Cells of Head and Neck Cancer and Their Treatment

The biology of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and other cancers have been related to cancer stem-like cells (CSC). Specific markers, which vary considerably depending on tumor type or tissue of origin, characterize CSC. CSC are cancer initiating, sustaining and mostly quiescent. Comp...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Andreas M. Kaufmann, Andreas E. Albers, Beate Köberle, Chao Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2010-07-01
Series:Cancers
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/2/3/1528/
Description
Summary:The biology of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and other cancers have been related to cancer stem-like cells (CSC). Specific markers, which vary considerably depending on tumor type or tissue of origin, characterize CSC. CSC are cancer initiating, sustaining and mostly quiescent. Compared to bulk tumors, CSC are less sensitive to chemo- and radiotherapy and may have low immunogenicity. Therapeutic targeting of CSC may improve clinical outcome. HNSCC has two main etiologies: human papillomavirus, a virus infecting epithelial stem cells, and tobacco and alcohol abuse. Here, current knowledge of HNSCC-CSC biology is reviewed and parallels to CSC of other origin are drawn where necessary for a comprehensive picture.
ISSN:2072-6694