NCT04137627 evaluated melatonin as an antioxidant in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for changes in tumor stemness expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma, but results showed no statistical difference despite a reduction in miR-210 and CD44 expression, implying the tumor microenvironment might play a role in CSC resistance mechanisms but may not be the dominant factor. Here, CD44 is linked to oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.