The Evolving Landscape of Cancer Stem Cells and Ways to Overcome Cancer Heterogeneity

Overview

Journal Cancers (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Oncology

Date 2019 Apr 25

PMID 31013960

Citations 9

Authors

Hiroaki Taniguchi

Yasunori Suzuki

Yukikazu Natori

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) with therapeutic resistance and plasticity can be found in various types of tumors and are recognized as attractive targets for treatments. As CSCs are derived from tissue stem or progenitor cells, and/or dedifferentiated mature cells, their signal transduction pathways are critical in the regulation of CSCs; chronic inflammation causes the accumulation of genetic mutations and aberrant epigenetic changes in these cells, potentially leading to the production of CSCs. However, the nature of CSCs appears to be stronger than the treatments of the past. To improve the treatments targeting CSCs, it is important to inhibit several molecules on the signaling cascades in CSCs simultaneously, and to overcome cancer heterogeneity caused by the plasticity. To select suitable target molecules for CSCs, we have to explore the landscape of CSCs from the perspective of cancer stemness and signaling systems, based on the curated databases of cancer-related genes. We have been studying the integration of a broad range of knowledge and experiences from cancer biology, and also from other interdisciplinary basic sciences. In this review, we have introduced the concept of developing novel strategies targeting CSCs.

Citing Articles

Advance in vasculogenic mimicry in ovarian cancer (Review).

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"DEPHENCE" system-a novel regimen of therapy that is urgently needed in the high-grade serous ovarian cancer-a focus on anti-cancer stem cell and anti-tumor microenvironment targeted therapies.

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Cancer Stem Cells in Ovarian Cancer-A Source of Tumor Success and a Challenging Target for Novel Therapies.

Wilczynski J, Wilczynski M, Paradowska E Int J Mol Sci. 2022; 23(5).

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Cancer Stem Cells: Emerging Key Players in Immune Evasion of Cancers.

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