Preeti Singh1, Dominic Augustine1, Roopa S Rao1, Shankargouda Patil2, Kamran Habib Awan3, Samudrala Venkatesiah Sowmya1, Vanishri C Haragannavar1, Kavitha Prasad4
1Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
3College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, South Jordan, Utah, USA
4Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Sciences, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
DOI: 10.4103/jcar.JCar_14_20
ABSTRACT
Targeting cancer stem cell (CSC) subpopulation within the tumor remains an obstacle for specific therapy in head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Few studies in the literature describe a panel of stem cell makers, however a distinct panel has not been put forth. This systematic review aims to enhance the knowledge of additional markers to accurately relate their expression to tumorigenesis, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Ebsco, and Science Direct, were searched from 2010 to 2017 using various combinations of the following keywords: “Stem cell markers in HNSCC” and “chemoresistance and radioresistence in HNSCC.” Original experimental studies (both in vitro and in vivo) published in English considering stem cell markers in HNSCC, were considered and included. We excluded articles on tumors other than HNSCC, reviews, editorial letters, book chapters, opinions, and abstracts from the analyses. Forty-two articles were included, in which 13 types of stem cell markers were identified. The most commonly expressed CSC markers were CD44, aldehyde dehydrogenase, and CD133, which were responsible for tumorigenesis, self-renewal, and therapy resistance, whereas NANOG, SOX-2, and OCT-4 were involved in metastasis and invasion.Identification of an accurate panel of CSC markers is the need of the hour as nonspecificity of the current markers poses a problem. Further studies with a large sample size would help validate the role of these CSC markers in HNSCC. These CSC proteins can be developed as therapeutic targets for HNSCC therapy, making future treatment modality more specific and effective.
Keywords: Aldehyde dehydrogenase, cancer stem cells, CD133, CD44, NANOG, OCT-4, SOX-2, targeted therapy