Effect of tumor microenvironment on pathogenesis of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is comprised of many different cell populations, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts and various infiltrating immune cells, and non-cell components of extracellular matrix. These crucial parts of the surrounding stroma can function as both positive and negative regulators of all hallmarks of cancer development, including evasion of apoptosis, induction of angiogenesis, deregulation of the energy metabolism, resistance to the immune detection and destruction, and activation of invasion and metastasis. This review represents a summary of recent studies focusing on describing these effects of microenvironment on initiation and progression of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, focusing on oral squamous cell carcinoma, since it is becoming clear that an investigation of differences in stromal composition of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma microenvironment and their impact on cancer development and progression may help better understand the mechanisms behind different responses to therapy and help define possible targets for clinical intervention.

Prognostic Value of MiR-21: An Updated Meta-Analysis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

“…Head and neck cancer (HNC) is considered a pathology with severe consequences on the quality of life of patients, with a reduced rate of response to treatment [1,2]. HNC is a highly heterogeneous group of tumors occurring on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal and oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx [1].…”

“…Head and neck cancer (HNC) is considered a pathology with severe consequences on the quality of life of patients, with a reduced rate of response to treatment [1,2]. HNC is a highly heterogeneous group of tumors occurring on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal and oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx [1]. From this heterogeneous group, over 90% of diagnosed cases are head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), statistically being the sixth most widespread cancer worldwide [1].…”

“…HNC is a highly heterogeneous group of tumors occurring on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal and oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx [1]. From this heterogeneous group, over 90% of diagnosed cases are head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), statistically being the sixth most widespread cancer worldwide [1].…”

Targeting ADAM10 in Cancer and Autoimmunity

“…Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an invasive carcinoma derived from malignantly transformed squamous epithelium lining the oral cavity (85). Based on 80 cases of OSCC samples analyzed, it was determined that OSCC expressed high levels of ADAM10 and that the samples with the highest ADAM10 expression were found in metastatic lesions (86).…”

Cancer Stem Cell Plasticity – A Deadly Deal

“…The tumor microenvironment is a complex and dynamic ecosystem consisting of diverse stromal cell types like fibroblasts, endothelial cells, adipocytes and immune cells which are influenced by the cancer cells and vice versa. In addition to the juxtacrine crosstalk with each other and cancer cells through direct cell to cell contacts, there are also factors secreted by the different cell types that form complex interacting networks which ultimately contribute to tumor growth and metastasis (Swartz, Iida et al 2012, Quail and Joyce 2013, Peltanova, Raudenska et al 2019. Accumulating evidence suggests that crosstalk with the stromal cells have significant implications on the stem-like behaviour and phenotypic plasticity of cancer cells (Pattabiraman and Weinberg 2014, Cabrera, Hollingsworth et al 2015, Prasetyanti and Medema 2017.…”