Multifactorial Contribution of Notch Signaling in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 20; no. 6; p. 1520
• Main Authors: Porcheri, Cristina, Meisel, Christian Thomas, Mitsiadis, Thimios
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 26.03.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Alcoholic beverages; Beverages; Cancer therapies; Cell cycle; Cell division; Cytology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA repair; Genomic instability; Head & neck cancer; Human papillomavirus; Kinases; Ligands; LIN-12 protein; Lymph nodes; Medical prognosis; Metastases; Metastasis; Molecular modelling; Notch pathway; Oral cancer; Radiation therapy; Review; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Squamous cell carcinoma; Tobacco; Tumors; Notch pathway; oral cancer; squamous cell carcinoma
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061520

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) defines a group of solid tumors originating from the mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract, pharynx, larynx, mouth, and nasal cavity. It has a metastatic evolution and poor prognosis and is the sixth most common cancer in the world, with 600,000 new cases reported every year. HNSCC heterogeneity and complexity is reflected in a multistep progression, involving crosstalk between several molecular pathways. The Notch pathway is associated with major events supporting cancerogenic evolution: cell proliferation, self-renewal, angiogenesis, and preservation of a pro-oncogenic microenvironment. Additionally, Notch is pivotal in tumor development and plays a dual role acting as both oncogene and tumor suppressor. In this review, we summarize the role of the Notch pathway in HNSCC, with a special focus on its compelling role in major events of tumor initiation and growth.