title: Modeling head and neck cancer stem cell-mediated tumorigenesis.
abstract: A large body of literature has emerged supporting the importance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the pathogenesis of head and neck cancers. CSCs are a subpopulation of cells within a tumor that share the properties of self-renewal and multipotency with stem cells from normal tissue. Their functional relevance to the pathobiology of cancer arises from the unique properties of tumorigenicity, chemotherapy resistance, and their ability to metastasize and invade distant tissues. Several molecular profiles have been used to discriminate a stem cell from a non-stem cell. CSCs can be grown for study and further enriched using a number of in vitro techniques. An evolving option for translational research is the use of mathematical and computational models to describe the role of CSCs in complex tumor environments. This review is focused discussing the evidence emerging from modeling approaches that have clarified the impact of CSCs to the biology of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., SPC 5848, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5848, USA. pearsona@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Alexander T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of Michigan School of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Trachette L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, 1011 N. University Rm. 2309, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1078, USA. jenor@med.umich.edu.|Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. jenor@med.umich.edu.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. jenor@med.umich.edu.|Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. jenor@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Jacques E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nör
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis; D008954:Models, Biological; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: Cancer stem cells; Cell culture; Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Mathematical modeling; Mouse models of human cancer; Orospheres; Statistical models