在头颈部，最常见的肿瘤是头颈部鳞状细胞癌(HNSCC)。HNSCC的特征包括快速发作、早期诊断困难、耐药性、复发以及全身不良反应，导致预防、诊断和治疗不足。值得注意的是，先前的研究表明S100蛋白与HNSCC之间存在关联。S100A8、S100A9和S100A14通过阻断细胞周期来干扰肿瘤细胞增殖。本综述讨论了这种关联。S100A4增强了癌症干细胞的特性，并与肌动蛋白和肌球蛋白相互作用以促进肿瘤细胞迁移。S100A1、S100A8、S100A9、S100A10、S100A14和S100P通过Hippo、核因子κB、磷脂酰肌醇激酶/蛋白激酶B/哺乳动物雷帕霉素目标蛋白和其他信号通路参与了HNSCC的发生和进展。此外，某些长链非编码RNA和微小RNA参与了在HNSCC中调控S100蛋白表达。减少S100蛋白家族特定成员的表达可能增强HNSCC的化疗敏感性。总的来说，建议S100蛋白可能作为HNSCC预防、诊断和治疗的标志物和靶点。版权所有：©胡等人。

The most common tumor affecting the head and neck is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The characteristics of HNSCC include a rapid onset, a lack of early diagnosis, drug resistance, relapse and systemic adverse effects, leading to inadequate prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Notably, previous research suggests that there is an association between S100 proteins and HNSCC. S100A8, S100A9 and S100A14 interfere with tumor cell proliferation by blocking the cell cycle. The present review discusses this association. S100A4 enhances cancer stem cell properties, and interacts with actin and tropomyosin to promote tumor cell migration. S100A1, S100A8, S100A9, S100A10, S100A14 and S100P are involved in the initiation and progression of HNSCC via Hippo, nuclear factor κB, phosphatidylinositol kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin and other signaling pathways. In addition, certain long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs are involved in regulating the expression of S100 proteins in HNSCC. Reducing the expression of certain members of the S100 protein family may enhance the chemosensitivity of HNSCC. Collectively, it is suggested that S100 proteins may function as markers and targets for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HNSCC.Copyright: © Hu et al.