Malignant features of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) may be derived
from the presence of stem-like cells that are characterized by uniquely high tumorigenic
potential. These cancer stem cells (CSC) function as putative drivers of tumor initiation,
therapeutic evasion, metastasis, and recurrence. Although they are an appealing conceptual
target, CSC-directed cancer therapies remain scarce. One promising CSC target is the IL6
pathway, which is strongly correlated with poor patient survival. In this study we created and …

The purpose of this study is to create and validate a mathematical model describing the
effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on head and neck cancer growth and cancer stem cell fraction.
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is the seventh most-common solid
tumor with about 55,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Malignant features of HNSCC
cells are derived from a shift towards more stem-like features, as postulated by the cancer
stem cell (CSC) hypothesis. CSCs encompass a unique cellular subpopulation …