Induction of c-Myc-dependent cell proliferation through toll-like receptor 3 in head and neck cancer.

Protein expression of human toll-like receptors (TLR) 1-10 was measured in cell lines and solid tumors of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). All HNSCC cell lines and 80% of solid tumors were found to express TLR3 as a predominantly intracellular protein, while no other TLR proteins were expressed. TLR3 has previously been shown to contribute to the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), a transcription factor which promotes several types of human cancers.