scholarly journals Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition Associated with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas: A Review

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3027
Author(s):  
Rogelio González-González ◽  
Gamaliel Ortiz-Sarabia ◽  
Nelly Molina-Frechero ◽  
José Manuel Salas-Pacheco ◽  
Sergio Manuel Salas-Pacheco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Tumor Hypoxia ◽  
Squamous Cell Carcinomas ◽  
Major Type ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Malignant Conversion

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are aggressive, recurrent, and metastatic neoplasms with a high occurrence around the world and can lead to death when not treated appropriately. Several molecules and signaling pathways are involved in the malignant conversion process. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been described in HNSCCs, a major type of aggressive carcinoma. EMT describes the development of epithelial cells into mesenchymal cells, which depends on several molecular interactions and signaling pathways that facilitate mesenchymal conversion. This is related to interactions with the microenvironment of the tumor, hypoxia, growth factors, matrix metalloproteinases, and the presence of viral infections. In this review, we focus on the main molecules related to EMT, their interactions with the tumor microenvironment, plasticity phenomena, epigenetic regulation, hypoxia, inflammation, their relationship with immune cells, and the inhibition of EMT in the context of HNSCCs.

scholarly journals N-cadherin and hyaluronan expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, relation to patient outcomes

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Heba A. El Hendawy ◽  
Afaf Ibrahiem ◽  
El-Nagdy SY ◽  
Zedan W
Keyword(s):  
Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Clinical Stage ◽  
Nodal Metastasis ◽  
Large Tumor ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Oral Site

Background: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is regarded as an essential step for tumor invasion and metastasis. In squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (HNSCC), N-Cadherin expression and its involvement in tumor progression remains a controversial topic.Aim of the study: The present study aimed to assess the expression of N-cadherin and HA in HNSCC and further study their relation to patients survival and outcomes.Material and methods: Fifty-eight retrospective selected cases of head and neck squamous carcinomas (HNSCCs) with available paraffin blocks. Complete clinico-pathological and follow-up data were recorded. Immune staining for N-cadherin and hyaluronan were done, also, we study the correlation of the results with patients survival data.Results: Squamous cell carcinoma islands demonstrated high N-cadherin expression in 55.2% and low expression in 44.8%. N-cadherin high expression was significantly (p < .05) associated with large tumor sizes, advanced TNM clinical stage, increased incidence of recurrence and patient’s death. A significant correlation was recorded between the presence of neural invasion and N-cadherin expression (p = .004). Strong intensity of stromal HA was significantly (p < .05) associated with an oral site, nodal metastasis, and higher TNM stage. Patients with high N-cadherin expression, diffuse hyaluronan, and strong stromal hyaluronanreaction had significantly lower DFS rates (p < .05). High N-cadherin expression, diffuse hyaluronan immunoreactivity, and strong stromal hyaluronan reaction intensity had significantly lower OS rates (p < .05).Conclusion: N-cadherin and hyaluronan could be important and promising biomarkers during surveillance of patients with HNSCC.

scholarly journals Induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Gli1 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) spheroid cultures

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 336-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nesrine Essid ◽  
Jean Claude Chambard ◽  
Amel Benammar Elgaaïed
Keyword(s):  
Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Serum Free ◽  
Human Tongue

Tumor microenvironment provides a specialized niche in which a population of stem-like cells is enriched and contributes to cancer progression. Moreover, cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype has been associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here we investigated the effect of tumor microenvironment on the phenotypic characteristics of head and neck cancer cells and expression of CSC markers using a three-dimensional (3D), spheroid, culture system of CAL33 cell line from human tongue squamous cell carcinoma. CAL33 cells derived from 2D monolayer cultures were grown in spheroid cultures containing serum-free medium (epidermal growth factor [EGF], fibroblast growth factor [FGF], and insulin). Adherent CAL33 cells from spheroids or standard control cultures were grown in the presence/absence of serum in combination with hypoxia/normoxia. Markers of EMT, CSC, and hypoxia were analyzed either by Western blotting, immunofluorescence, or reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Spheroid cultures showed hypoxic microenvironment (high carbonic anhydrase IX [CAIX] expression), mesenchymal-like characteristics (reduced E-cadherin and increased vimentin and N-cadherin expression, presence of larger colonies comprised of larger, spread cells with lower density), and increased expression of the CSC marker glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (Gli1). These effects were recapitulated in serum-free adherent CAL33 cells maintained for prolonged periods in hypoxia (1% O2) but, in contrast, were completely abolished by the presence of serum. Overall, we found that a combination of hypoxia, EGF and FGF was essential to induce the EMT in adherent CAL33 cell cultures. The addition of serum rapidly reverts the EMT of cells, affects CSC phenotype and, thus, prevents the detection of such cells in tumor cell lines.

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