title: Isolation and genomic characterization of stem cells in head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated the use of 3 different established cell-sorting strategies to isolate and characterize stem cells from head and neck cancer cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five low-passage cell lines were subjected to cell sorting based on Hoechst side population, Aldefluor, and CD44 expression. Isolated cell populations were studied for gene expression, radiosensitivity, and chemosensitivity to cisplatin and paclitaxel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each sorting method identified a different set of genes associated with different gene ontology categories, with mitosis being the only common category. CD44-associated gene changes were almost exclusively associated with cell cycle and in particular mitosis. There were no significant differences in radiosensitivity or cisplatin sensitivity of stem or non-stem cells, but CD44-isolated stem cells were more resistant to paclitaxel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggested that CD44 may be the most promising cell-sorting strategy to isolate and investigate the impact of stem cells in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC).
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan; Beaumont BioBank, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan.
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marples
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galoforo
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Geddes
authors.forename: Bryan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Thibodeau
authors.forename: Reidar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grénman
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akervall
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D023281:Genomics; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin
keywords: flow cytometry; gene expression; head and neck cancer; radiosensitivity; stem cells