Maintenance of head and neck cancer stem cell-like cells by cd44/smurf1 signaling

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is among the most invasive malignancies, and the 5-year survival rate stands at approximately 50%. Recent studies in HNSCC suggest that a subpopulation of tumor-initiating cancer stem cells (CSC) is responsible for metastatic invasion and drug resistance. CD44, a receptor for hyaluronic acid (HA), is a known CSC marker in HNSCC, but its role in maintaining CSC populations is not known. We previously reported that SMURF1 inhibition of BMP signaling is essential for maintaining a CD44-high CSC-like population in HNSCC.

Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics - August 17, 2017 Category: ENT & OMF Authors: R. GOPALAKRISHNAN, A. KHAMMANIWONG, E. DICKERSON Source Type: research