Head and neck cancer: the possible role of stem cells

C. Bianchini1 , A. Ciorba1, S. Pelucchi1, R. Piva1, 2 and A. Pastore1

(1) ENT Department, University Hospital of Ferrara, C.so Giovecca 203, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
(2) Molecular Biology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

Received: 16 June 2007 Accepted: 20 September 2007 Published online: 13 October 2007

Abstract There is a rising interest in the field of oncology in order to understand if cancer stem cells can play a key role also in the pathogenesis of head and neck tumors. It is likely that cancer stem cells are a minor population of tumor cells that possess the stem cell property of self-renewal. In addition, dysregulation of stem cell self-renewal is a likely requirement for the development of cancer. This new model for cancer will have significant ramifications for the way we will study and treat tumors. The authors are proposing a discussion of this topic, which, in their opinion, need to be further investigated in the ENT field.
Keywords Cancer - Stem cells - Head and neck

Bianchini and Ciorba have equally contributed to the paper.