Further, confirming the in vitro findings showing the ability of SLC-0111 to increase Cis-Pt inhibition of HNSCC cells and spheroid invasiveness, preliminary studies, performed in a highly invasive HNSCC orthotopic mouse model using NIR-imaging with ProSense-750, showed a greater reduction of metastatic spread after combinatorial treatment. The gene discussed is CCL21; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.