Abstract: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most commonly diagnosed\ncancer worldwide. Despite advances in the treatment management, locally advanced disease has a\npoor prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 50%. The growth of HNSCC is\nmaintained by a population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) which possess unlimited self-renewal\npotential and induce tumor regrowth if not completely eliminated by therapy. The population of\nCSCs is not only a promising target for tumor treatment, but also an important biomarker to identify\nthe patients at risk for therapeutic failure and disease progression. This review aims to provide an\noverview of the recent pre-clinical and clinical studies on the biology and potential therapeutic\nimplications of HNSCC stem cells.
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