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The stem cell hypothesis in head and neck cancer
Author(s) -
Graziano A.,
d'Aquino R.,
Tirino V.,
Desiderio V.,
Rossi A.,
Pirozzi G.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/jcb.21436
Subject(s) - head and neck cancer , stem cell , biology , head and neck , cancer stem cell , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , genetics , surgery
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are tumoral cells which have stem features such as self‐renewal, high migration capacity, drug resistance, high proliferation abilities. In the last 10 years the pathological meaning and the existence of CSCs have been matter of discussion and a large number of articles have been published about the role that these cells play in the development and maintenance of the tumors. Head and neck squamous‐cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide: early diagnosis of high‐risk premalignant lesions are high priorities for reducing deaths due to head and neck cancer. In the last years the CSCs hypothesis has been faced also for head and neck cancer, with the aim of a better comprehension of the tumor biology and an early diagnosis. The evidence that the development of a tumor comes from a small number of cells with stem‐like characteristic, could bring too to the identification of therapies against these cellular target, fundamental for maintenance and progression of the lesion. Here, a literature review has been reported about the detection of supposed CSCs in head and neck cancer. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 408–412, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.