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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
11:28
Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics
Published on: May 11, 2016
Stem cell patterns in cell lines derived from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Lisa J Harper1, Kim Piper, John Common
1Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, Whitechapel, London, UK.
Summary
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines contain stem-like cells. These findings suggest these cell lines can model tumor-initiating cells and their therapeutic responses.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Tumor-initiating cells drive cancer initiation, growth, and metastasis.
- Stem cell characteristics are observed in cancer cell lines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate stem cell properties in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines.
- To analyze colony morphology, side population, stem cell markers, and spheroid formation.
Main Methods:
- Examined established and newly generated HNSCC cell lines.
- Assessed colony morphologies, Hoechst dye exclusion (side population), CD44, CD133, CD29 expression, and spheroid formation.
- Utilized cell sorting and FACS analysis.
Main Results:
- All cell lines exhibited holoclone/meroclone/paraclone morphologies.
- CD44 expression correlated with clonogenicity.
- Side population identified in CA1, H357, and UK1 cell lines, indicating stem-like cells.
- All cell lines formed re-passagable spheroids in suspension.
Conclusions:
- HNSCC cell lines possess stem cell properties.
- These cell lines serve as relevant experimental models for studying tumor-initiating cells and their treatment responses.
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