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J Cancer 2013; 4(1):66-83. doi:10.7150/jca.5112 This issue Cite

Review

The Tumor Microenvironment Contribution to Development, Growth, Invasion and Metastasis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Sittichai Koontongkaew^{1,2 ✉}

1. Oral Biology Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, Thammasat University, Klong Luang, Prathumtani 12121, Thailand
2. Medicinal Herb Research Unit, Thammasat University, Thailand.

✉ Corresponding author: Sittichai Koontongkaew Email: koontongkaewcom, koontongkaewcom.

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a complex tissue that contains tumor cells and the surrounding stroma, which is populated by different types of mesenchymal cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Collectively, they are referred to as the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent studies have shown that TME has a more profound influence on the growth and metastasis of HNSCC than was previously appreciated. Because carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are frequently observed in the stroma of the tumor, this review focuses on the potential role of tumor-CAFs interactions in progression of HNSCC. Tumor-CAFs crosstalk enhances the production of growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and inflammatory mediators, which eventually facilitates tumor growth. In fact, factors and cells that do not support tumor growth are usually down regulated or mitigated in TME. Therefore TME may determine the fate of the tumors at the site of invasion and metastasis. For tumor cells that survive at these sites, stromal activation may serve to establish a supportive tumor stroma, fostering the outgrowth of the metastatic cells. The concept of tumor-stromal interactions and microenvironmental niche has profound consequences in tumor growth and metastasis and therefore, it's understanding will open up new strategies for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of HNSCC.

Keywords: Head and neck cancer, Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), Cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2), CXCR4, CCL12.

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