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Cancer Stem Cells in Head and Neck Carcinomas: Identification and Possible Therapeutic Implications

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Stem Cells: Biology and Engineering

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((ICRRM,volume 1083))

Abstract

The recurrence and/or lack of response of certain tumors to radio- and chemotherapy has been attributed to a small subpopulation of cells termed cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs have been identified in many tumors (including solid and hematological tumors). CSCs are characterized by their capacity for self-renewal, their ability to introduce heterogeneity within a tumor mass and its metastases, genomic instability, and their insensitivity to both radiation and chemotherapy. The latter highlights the clinical importance of studying this subpopulation since their resistance to traditional treatments may lead to metastatic disease and/or tumor relapse. Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are the sixth most common malignancy worldwide with the highest incidence occurring in East Asia and eastern and southern Africa. Several cellular subpopulations believed to have CSC properties have been isolated from HNSCCs, but at present, identification and characterization of CSCs remains an experimental challenge with no established or standardized protocols in place to confirm their identity. In this review we discuss current approaches to the study of CSCs with a focus on HNSCCs, particularly in the context of what this might mean from a therapeutic perspective.

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Abbreviations

ABC:

ATP-binding cassette

AKT:

Protein kinase B

ALCAM:

Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule

ALDH:

Aldehyde dehydrogenase

ATP:

Adenosine triphosphate

BCRP:

Breast cancer resistant protein

BMI1:

Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1

CD44:

Cluster of differentiation

CSC:

Cancer stem cell

EMT:

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition

ESCC:

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

FACS:

Fluorescence-activated cell sorting

HIF:

Hypoxia-inducible factors

HNC:

Head and neck carcinoma

HNSCC:

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

HPV:

Human papillomavirus

HSA:

Heat stable antigen

ICAM1:

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1

MAPK:

Mitogen-activated protein kinases

NOD:

Nonobese diabetic

Oct3/4:

Octamer-binding transcription factor 3/4

OSCC:

Oral squamous cell carcinoma

P-gp:

P-glycoprotein

PI3K:

Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase

POU:

Pit-Oct-Unc

SCC:

Squamous cell carcinoma

SCID:

Severe combined immunodeficiency

SOX2:

Sex-determining region Y-box2

SP:

Side population

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the South African Medical Research Council in terms of the SAMRC's Flagship Award Project SAMRC-RFA-UFSP-01-2013/STEM CELLS, the SAMRC Extramural Unit for Stem Cell Research and Therapy and the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine of the University of Pretoria.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Author Contribution

MSP conceived the project, EW drafted the first version of the manuscript, and EW, SB, SN, AEM, and MSP provided intellectual input and contributed to the writing of the manuscript. All authors vetted and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), Department of Immunology, and SAMRC Extramural Unit for Stem Cell Research and Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Elize Wolmarans & Michael Sean Pepper

  2. Department of Oral Pathology, School of Oral Health Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa

    Sonja C. Boy

  3. Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Sulette Nel

  4. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Anne E. Mercier

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  1. Elize Wolmarans
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  2. Sonja C. Boy
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  4. Anne E. Mercier
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Correspondence to Michael Sean Pepper .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Stem Cell Research and Application, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Phuc Van Pham

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Wolmarans, E., Boy, S.C., Nel, S., Mercier, A.E., Pepper, M.S. (2017). Cancer Stem Cells in Head and Neck Carcinomas: Identification and Possible Therapeutic Implications. In: Van Pham, P. (eds) Stem Cells: Biology and Engineering. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology(), vol 1083. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2017_116

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