Copyright
©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Stem Cells. Nov 26, 2014; 6(5): 511-525
Published online Nov 26, 2014. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v6.i5.511
Published online Nov 26, 2014. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v6.i5.511
Histone modifications: Targeting head and neck cancer stem cells
John M Le, Cristiane H Squarize, Rogerio M Castilho, Laboratory of Epithelial Biology, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, United States
Author contributions: Le JM, Squarize CH and Castilho RM contributed equally to this work; all authors were involved in reviewing the literature and writing the manuscript.
Supported by University of Michigan, School of Dentistry startup
Correspondence to: Rogerio M Castilho, DDS, MS, PhD, Laboratory of Epithelial Biology, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, 1011 N University Ave, Room 3323B, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, United States. rcastilh@umich.edu
Telephone: +1-734-6472150 Fax: +1-734-7635503
Received: August 29, 2014
Revised: September 10, 2014
Accepted: September 17, 2014
Published online: November 26, 2014
Revised: September 10, 2014
Accepted: September 17, 2014
Published online: November 26, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Stem cells are long-lived, therefore their genome is subject to more stress from genetic mutations and epigenetic factors than their short-lived, differentiated progeny. Recent evidence strongly indicates that a subpopulation of tumor initiating cells, termed “cancer stem cells”, play a fundamental role in tumor heterogeneity, growth, and preservation. Cancer stem cell behavior is influenced by epigenetic events comprised primarily of DNA methylation and histone modifications that dynamically regulate gene expression and silencing.