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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: Oral Oncol. 2014 Oct 25;51(1):16–23. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2014.10.004

Figure 3. Critical signaling molecules with potential relevance in HNSCC neuron-tumor cell interaction.

Figure 3

(A) HNSCC tumor cells can secrete molecules including NGF, BDNF and NT-3 which lead to neurite outgrowth toward the cancer cells. The nerves also secrete molecules which can cause complex signaling cascades in the cancer cells facilitating tumor invasion and migration. [39-43, 45](B) Major cytoplasmic signaling cascades activated downstream of neurotrophic receptors induce a variety of cellular responses including cell survival, differentiation or death.