Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2026

Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics
Published on: May 11, 2016
Nitric oxide synthase expression is downregulated in basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck
P A Brennan1, T Umar, J Bowden
1BUPA Research Fellow, Maxillofacial Unit, St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, West Sussex, UK.
Abstract:
The small molecule nitric oxide (NO) has many actions, most of which are poorly understood. Recently, NO and related compounds have been implicated in skin damage caused by ultraviolet light although their exact role is not clear. We undertook an immuno histochemical study to assess the expression of type II NO synthase (NOS2) and type III (NOS3) in basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) of the head and neck. In all 48 cases studied, NOS2 was found in the basal cell layer of the skin at the tumour margin but it w as significantly reduced in the tumour epithelial cells (P=0.001). NOS3 was localized to the endothelium of the blood vessels in both skin and tumour in all cases, and it was not seen in the tumour epithelial cells. The results suggest that expression of NOS is down-regulated in basal cell carcinomas.
Related Concept Videos
The Nucleolus
Abnormal Proliferation
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

