Cancer

Cell culture and mouse studies suggest BMI1 inhibitors could help treat cisplatin-resistant head and neck cancers. Primary human squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) stem cells had higher BMI1 expression than non-cancerous stem cells. In a mouse model of carcinogen-induced oral cancer, genetic depletion of the cisplatin-resistant BMI1-expressing cells plus cisplatin decreased tumor growth, the percentage of proliferating cells, and the number of lymph node metastases compared with no depletion. In a cancer stem cell orthotopic xenograft mouse model of cisplatin-resistant SCCHN, a BMI1 inhibitor tool compound plus cisplatin decreased tumor volume and the number of lymph node metastases compared with either agent alone. Next steps could include testing the combination therapy in additional models of cisplatin-resistant head and neck cancers...