ERK1/2-Nanog signaling pathway enhances CD44(+) cancer stem-like cell phenotypes and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

ABSTRACT: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) harbor a subset of cells that are CD44(+) and present with malignancy and radiotherapy resistance. As a key regulator of self-renewal, Nanog expression not only determines cell fate in pluripotent cells but also mediates tumorigenesis in cancer cells; thus, we examined the role of Nanog in CD44(+) HNSCC. Three HNSCC cell lines, tumor xenografts, and patient tumors were examined. Nanog levels were significantly higher in CD44(+) HNSCC spheroids than in CD44(-) spheroids, and further increased when grown as spheroids to enrich for CSCs. CD44(+) spheroids showed a 3.4-7.5-fold increase in migration and invasion compared with CD44(-) spheroids and were resistant to radiation therapy, which was reversed by inhibiting Nanog. Nanog knockdown also de

SUBMITTER: Huang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7181750 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature