title: Detection of putative stem cell markers, CD44/CD133, in primary and lymph node metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. A preliminary immunohistochemical and in vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Investigators hypothesized that cancer stem cells (CSCs) could play a role in determining cancer progression by metastasizing to cervical lymph node (N+) and then influencing prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  To identify CSCs in HNSCCs and their clonogenic capacity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Putative CSCs from 29 primary HNSCCs and 19 corresponding node metastases were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical (IHC) was performed, and CSCs' clonogenic in vitro capacity was tested; ones epithelial nature of cancer cells forming colonies was confirmed by a second IHC, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis helped in counting CD44/CD133-CSCs markers percentage expression in HNSCC tumour-derived cultures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemical showed CD44 (93.1%) and CD133 (10.34%) expression; FACS-analysis showed the enrichment of CD44/CD133 cancer cells, with the highest clonogenic capacity of CD44+-subpopulation; a higher CD44 rates were documented from N+ subcultures than from original tumours (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A putative cancer stem-like cell population is detectable in HNSCCs, and our findings show their in vitro clonogenic capacity by demonstrating that CD44+-cultured cells are the main population proliferating obtained by N+ HNSCC metastases, emphasizing their possible role in tumour progression.
authors: First Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Mannelli
authors: Department of Sperimental Pathology and Oncology Medical School, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Magnelli
authors: First Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Deganello
authors: First Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Busoni
authors: First Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Meccariello
authors: First Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Parrinello
authors: First Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides