Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a high reoccurrence rate and an extremely low survival rate. There is limited availability of effective therapies to reduce the rate of recurrence, resulting in high morbidity and mortality of advanced cases. Late presentation, delay in detection of lesions, and a high rate of metastasis make HNSCC a devastating disease. This review offers insight into the role of sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK1), a key enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism, in HNSCC. Sphingolipids not only play a structural role in cellular membranes, but also modulate cell signal transduction pathways to influence biological outcomes such as senescence, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, proliferation, and angiogenesis. SphK1 is a critical regulator of the delicate balance between proliferation and apoptosis. The highest expression of SphK1 is found in the advanced stage of disease, and there is a positive correlation between SphK1 expression and recurrent tumors. On the other hand, silencing SphK1 reduces HNSCC tumor growth and sensitizes tumors to radiation-induced death. Thus, SphK1 plays an important and influential role in determining HNSCC proliferation and metastasis. We discuss roles of SphK1 and other sphingolipids in HNSCC development and therapeutic strategies against HNSCC.
Highlights
Recurrence rates for advanced-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is greater than 50% [1]
The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the effect of sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK1) on HNSCC and offer insight into possible uses of SphK1 levels affect other sphingolipid metabolites and enzymes, this review summarizes the contributions of other sphingolipids to HNSCC etiology
SphK1 upregulation is associated with tumorigenesis and poor survival in HNSCC
Summary
Recurrence rates for advanced-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is greater than 50% [1]. The five-year survival rate for HNSCC is 50%, and has not drastically improved over the last 30 years [2]. This may be due to late presentation and the subsequent delay in detection of lesions, and a high rate of metastasis and invasion into locoregional lymph nodes [2]. There is limited availability of effective therapies to reduce the rate of recurrence, resulting in high morbidity and mortality of advanced cases [2]. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the effect of sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK1) on HNSCC and offer insight into possible uses of SphK1 levels affect other sphingolipid metabolites and enzymes, this review summarizes the contributions of other sphingolipids to HNSCC etiology
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