Table 2 Cancer stem cell targeting in head and neck cancer

Nanog

Silencing

Suppresses tumorigenic and CSCs-like abilities

In vitro

[226]

Grp78

Silencing

Inhibits tumor growth and stem cell regulatory proteins i.e., slug and Oct-4

In vitro

[225]

CD44

Silencing

Decreases migration, EMT, and reduces the expression of snail, vimentin, N-cadherin and slug

In vitro

[232]

Inhibiting translation elongation

SVC112

Increases the progression of cell-cycle slows and delay DNA repair following radiation. Improves colony and sphere formation

In vitro

[233]

Let-7d/CDC34 axis

Niclosamide

Induces cell cycle arrest in G1 phase

In vitro, in vivo

[234]

5T4

MEDI0641

Decreases the CSC fraction, and tumor regression

In vivo

[235]

cMET/FZD8

PF-2341066

Decreases tumor initiation, sphere formation, and metastatic spread

In vivo

[236]

CD44v6

Anti-CD44v6 antibody BIWA-IRDye800CW and -Indium-111

Detection of tumor regions and invasive zones

In vivo

[237]

CD44

Radionuclide¹⁸⁶Re-cmAb (U36)

Dose-limiting myelotoxicity, reduction in tumor size

Human

[238]

ALDH1

Alda-89, Aldi-6

In combination with cisplatin improves apoptosis and decreases tumor growth

In vitro, in vivo

[239]

Porcupine (PORCN) (Wnt signaling)

LGK974

High response in HNSCC with Notch loss of function mutation

In vitro

[240]

FGF

BGJ398

Reduces ALDH^highCD44^high, sensitization to cisplatin

In vitro

[241]

Bmi1/AP-1

PTC-209

Cisplatin plus PTC-209 potently eradicates Bmi1 + CSCs and suppresses progression of tumor

In vitro

[209]