Study on CD44 as a Cancer Stem Cell Marker for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

CD44, a cell-surface glycoprotein receptor for hyaluronic acid, has been reported to be involved in tumor growth & development and has also been implicated as a Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) marker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the prognostic value of CD44 still remains unclear.  Therefore in the present study, we aimed to Identify the role of CD44 in HNSCC by estimating the levels of soluble CD44 and correlate it with the prognosis and treatment of HNSCC. We recruited randomly selected patients with HNSCC (n=40) as cases and age-matched healthy volunteers (n=30) as controls. Demographic and health habits data were obtained from all the subjects. Serum concentration of sCD44 in cases and controls were determined by ELISA.  CD44 expression was significantly greater in HNSCC cases compared to healthy individuals. Among HNSCC cases, the CD44 expression decreased significantly during and after the tenure of treatment.  CD44 appears to be a key marker for the detection of HNSCC stem cells. It can be easily detected in serum and hence could be used as a diagnostic marker.  Further experiments might reveal its role as a diagnostic and prognostic marker, and possibly as a therapeutic target.