Transcriptomic study of the mechanism of anoikis resistance in head and neck squamous carcinoma

Background Normal epithelial cells rapidly undergo apoptosis as soon as they lose contact with the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is termed as anoikis. However, cancer cells tend to develop a resistance mechanism to anoikis. This acquired ability is termed as anoikis resistance. Cancer cells, with anoikis resistance, can spread to distant tissues or organs via the peripheral circulatory system and cause cancer metastasis. Thus, inhibition of anoikis resistance blocks the metastatic ability of cancer cells.