CD44 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: These changes induce EMT and lead to the acquisition of stemness in HNSCC cell lines as shown by: (1) the downregulation of epithelial markers (E-cadherin, desmoplakin), (2) the upregulation of mesenchymal markers (vimentin, N-cadherin), (3) the induction of cell motility, (4) the enhanced expression of ALDH and CD44, and (5) the growth of cells as non-adherent orospheres.