MSC-exposed head and neck cancer cells develop paclitaxel resistance that can be maintained up to 30 d after the initial co-incubation period. The secretory profile of the MSCs suggested IL-6 to be a potential mediator of epigenetic imprinting on the head and neck cancer cells. When the MSC-imprinted cancer cells are exposed to the demethylation agent 5-aza-2′deoxycytidine, it restores the expression of the drug resistance genes to that of parental cells. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is head and neck cancer.