Enhancement of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma proliferation, invasion, and metastasis by tumor‐associated fibroblasts in preclinical models

<jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has had little improvement in mortality rates in decades. A clearer understanding of the HNSCC tumor microenvironment will aid in finding more effective targeted therapies for this disease. Tumor‐associated fibroblasts (TAFs) are the largest stromal cellular components of the tumor microenvironment in HNSCC.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>We isolated TAFs from clinical HNSCC cases and propagated <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic>. The effects of TAF‐secreted paracrine factors on <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic> HNSCC migration, invasion, and proliferation was assessed. The effect of TAFs on HNSCC growth and metastases was determined in an orthotopic floor‐of‐the‐mouth tumor model.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>TAF‐conditioned media increased HNSCC cell migration, invasion, and proliferation. TAFs increased HNSCC tumor growth and metastases <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic>.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>TAFs play a major role in increasing tumor growth and metastasis in HNSCC. Targeting the tumor stroma may be important to reduce the rate of HNSCC metastasis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. <jats:italic>Head Neck</jats:italic> <jats:bold>36</jats:bold>: 385–392, 2014</jats:p></jats:sec>