Salinomycin induces cell death and differentiation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma stem cells despite activation of EMT and Akt

ABSTRACT: Cancer stem cells are believed to play a crucial role in cancer recurrence due to their resistance to conventional chemotherapy and capacity for self-renewal. Recent studies have reported that salinomycin, a livestock antibiotic, selectively targets breast cancer stem cells 100-fold more effectively than paclitaxel. In our study we sought to determine the effects of salinomycin on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) stem cells. We show that salinomycin is able to decrease cell viability and induce apoptosis. In combination with the chemotherapeutic agents cisplatin and paclitaxel, salinomycin synergistically killed HNSCC cancer stem cells more effectively than either drug alone. Furthermore, we observed that salinomycin decreases stem cell properties as shown by a significant red

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

SUBMITTER: Kiang Alan 

PROVIDER: S-ECPF-GEOD-33196 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other