Histone modifications: Targeting head and neck cancer stem cells

Figure 4 Data from Almeida et al proposing the mechanism for nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells driven resistance to chemotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Chromatin undergo normal compaction and decondensation through the acetylation of core histones organized in nucleosomes. Acetylation of tumor histones driven by expression of NFκB influences tumor behavior and plasticity of Cancer Stem Cells. NFκB: Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; EMT: Epithelial to mesenchymal transition.