Cancer stem cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small sub-population of cells within a tumor mass proficient of tumor initiation and progression. Distinguishing features possessed by CSCs encompass self-renewal, regeneration and capacity to differentiate. These cells are attributed to the phenomenon of aggression, recurrence and metastasis in neoplasms. Due to their cancer initiating and contributing features, a proper understanding of these CSCs and its microenvironment would aid in better understanding of cancer and designing better targeted therapeutic strategies for improved clinical outcome, thus improving the prognosis. This article dispenses a narrative review of CSCs in the context of head and neck carcinoma under the sub headings of overview of cancer stem cells, methods of isolation of these cells, putative CSC markers of head and neck cancer, signaling pathways used by these cells and their therapeutic implications.

Keywords

• cancer stem cells
• cancer stem cell hypothesis
• cell surface markers
• head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• therapeutic resistance