title: Mechanisms of Invasion in Head and Neck Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The highly invasive properties demonstrated by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are often associated with locoregional recurrence and lymph node metastasis in patients and is a key factor leading to an expected 5-year survival rate of approximately 50% for patients with advanced disease. It is important to understand the features and mediators of HNSCC invasion so that new treatment approaches can be developed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide an overview of the characteristics, mediators, and mechanisms of HNSCC invasion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review of peer-reviewed articles in PubMed on HNSCC invasion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Histologic features of HNSCC tumors can help predict prognosis and influence clinical treatment decisions. Cell surface receptors, signaling pathways, proteases, invadopodia function, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, microRNAs, and tumor microenvironment are all involved in the regulation of the invasive behavior of HNSCC cells. Identifying effective HNSCC invasion inhibitors has the potential to improve outcomes for patients by reducing the rate of spread and increasing responsiveness to chemoradiation.
authors.forename: Lizandra
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: Sangeeta K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jayakar
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ow
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Pathology (Mss Jimenez and Jayakar, and Drs Ow and Segall) and Anatomy and Structural Biology (Mss Jimenez and Jayakar, and Dr Segall), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: Jeffrey E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Segall
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000379:methods; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs