Abstract
There is increasing evidence that the growth and spread of cancer is driven by a small subpopulation of cancer cells, defined as cancer stem cells (CSCs). Recent data indicate that the initiation, growth, recurrence and metastasis of cancers are related to the behavior of a small population of malignant cells with properties of stem cells, and information about them are potentially helpful in identifying the target for the tumor's therapeutic elimination. The presence of subpopulation cells with phenotypic and behavioral characteristics corresponding to both normal epithelial stem cells and to cells capable of initiating tumors has been also reported in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs).
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
MeSH terms
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AC133 Antigen
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Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family
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Animals
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Antigens, CD / metabolism
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Biomarkers
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Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
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Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
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Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
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Glycoproteins / metabolism
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Head and Neck Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology*
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Head and Neck Neoplasms / radiotherapy
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Humans
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Hyaluronan Receptors / metabolism
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Isoenzymes / analysis
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Neoplasm Metastasis / immunology
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Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology
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Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
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Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology*
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Peptides / metabolism
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Retinal Dehydrogenase / analysis
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
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Stem Cells / pathology
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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AC133 Antigen
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Antigens, CD
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Biomarkers
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Biomarkers, Tumor
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CD44 protein, human
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Glycoproteins
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Hyaluronan Receptors
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Isoenzymes
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Peptides
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Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family
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ALDH1A1 protein, human
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Retinal Dehydrogenase