Stat3 orchestrates tumor development and progression: the Achilles' heel of head and neck cancers?

Abstract

Despite recent advancements in treatment modalities, the overall survival and quality of life of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have not improved significantly over the past decade. With the increasing emergency of new biological agents, the development of novel treatment schemes based on cancer cell biology may be promising for this group of patients. We previously introduced the "oncogene addiction" concept as a rationale for molecular targeting in cancer therapy and prevention. In this context, an increasing number of preclinical studies have demonstrated that the Signal Transducers and Activators of transcription 3 (Stat3) transcription factor plays critical roles in the development and progression of a variety of tumors including HNSCC, by regulating cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, angiogenesis, immune evasion, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and through effects in cancer stem cells. The purpose of this review is to summarize current experimental and clinical evidence that suggest that HNSCC might be addicted to Stat3 and describe the molecular mechanisms that may explain this phenomenon. In addition, we discuss whether this addiction is an exploitable target for developing approaches for the treatment and prevention of HNSCC.

• Authors: Muneyuk Masuda, T Wakasaki, Masumi Suzui, Satoshi Toh, Andrew K Joe, I B Weinstein
• Journal: Current cancer drug targets (Curr Cancer Drug Targets) Vol. 10 Issue 1 Pg. 117-26 (Feb 2010) ISSN: 1873-5576 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 20088788 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
• STAT3 Transcription Factor

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis
• Cell Proliferation
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic (pathology)
• Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• Mice
• Neoplasms, Squamous Cell (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Neovascularization, Pathologic (drug therapy, pathology)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (metabolism)
• STAT3 Transcription Factor (agonists, antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Tumor Escape