Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are heterogeneous and aggressive tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract. Although various histological types exist, the most common is squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The incidence of HNSCC is increasing, making it an important public health concern. Tumor resistance to contemporary treatments, namely, chemo- and radiotherapy, and the recurrence of the primary tumor after its surgical removal cause huge problems for patients. Despite recent improvements in these treatments, the 5-year survival rate is still relatively low. HNSCCs may develop local lymph node metastases and, in the most advanced cases, also distant metastases. A key process associated with tumor progression and metastasis is epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), when poorly motile epithelial tumor cells acquire motile mesenchymal characteristics. These transition cells can invade different adjacent tissues and finally form metastases. EMT is governed by various transcription factors, including the best-characterized TWIST1 and TWIST2, SNAIL, SLUG, ZEB1, and ZEB2. Here, we highlight the current knowledge of the process of EMT in HNSCC and present the main protein markers associated with it. This review focuses on the transcription factors related to EMT and emphasizes their role in the resistance of HNSCC to current chemo- and radiotherapies. Understanding the role of EMT and the precise molecular mechanisms involved in this process may help with the development of novel anti-cancer therapies for this type of tumor.
头颈部癌（HNCs）是上消化呼吸道的异质性和侵袭性肿瘤。尽管存在多种组织学类型，但最常见的是鳞状细胞癌（HNSCC）。HNSCC的发病率正在上升，使其成为一个重要的公共卫生问题。肿瘤对当代治疗（即化疗和放疗）的抵抗性，以及手术切除后原发肿瘤的复发，给患者带来了巨大困扰。尽管这些治疗方法最近有所改进，但五年生存率仍然相对较低。HNSCC可能发生局部淋巴结转移，在最晚期病例中还会出现远处转移。与肿瘤进展和转移相关的关键过程是上皮-间质转化（EMT），即运动能力较差的上皮肿瘤细胞获得运动性间质特征。这些转化细胞可以侵入不同的邻近组织，最终形成转移灶。EMT受多种转录因子调控，包括研究最深入的TWIST1和TWIST2、SNAIL、SLUG、ZEB1和ZEB2。本文重点概述了目前对HNSCC中EMT过程的认识，并介绍了与之相关的主要蛋白标志物。本综述聚焦于与EMT相关的转录因子，并强调它们在HNSCC对当前化疗和放疗抵抗中的作用。理解EMT的作用及其涉及的精确分子机制，可能有助于开发针对此类肿瘤的新型抗癌疗法。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家