A new prospect in cancer therapy: targeting cancer stem cells to eradicate cancer

Abstract

According to the cancer stem cell theory, cancers can be initiated by cancer stem cells. This makes cancer stem cells prime targets for therapeutic intervention. Eradicating cancer stem cells by efficient targeting agents may have the potential to cure cancer. In this review, we summarize recent breakthroughs that have improved our understanding of cancer stem cells, and we discuss the therapeutic strategy of targeting cancer stem cells, a promising future direction for cancer stem cell research.

Radioresistance of the breast tumor is highly correlated to its level of cancer stem cell and its clinical implication for breast irradiation

“…Tumor heterogeneity is well known (10, 13, 18). Radiosensitivity varies to a great extent across different tumor types and between patients bearing the same type of tumor (21, 35).…”

“…Current stem cell theory (12) supports the following highlighted characteristics of CSCs: 1) Solid tumors, such as breast, brain, prostate, lung (13) comprise a distinct heterogeneous population of CSCs; 2) CSCs are tumorigenic and markedly different than the differentiated cancer cells in their ability to proliferate and self-renew (10, 11); 3) CSCs are more persistent in tumors and cause relapse and metastasis by giving rise to new tumors; 4) CSCs can be found at any location in the tumor (16, 17, 18) and 5) are generally more resistant to ionization radiation or other cell killing agents (1). The presence of CSC challenges the limitations of current treatment method and suggests a significant opportunity to design more effective cancer treatments.…”

Lung cancer stem cells—origin, characteristics and therapy

“…ATPbinding cassette (ABC) transporters, such as p-glycoprotein and multidrug resistant associated protein (MRP1), are membrane transporters that can pump structurally unrelated small molecules, such as cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs out of the cell. Normal stem cells and lung CSCs express high levels of ABC transporters resulting in low intracellular drug concentrations (9). Studies indicate the high expression of ABCG2 gene in lung CSCs but are switched off in most terminally differentiated progeny (10).…”

Cloning and Expression of C2 and V Domains of ALCAM Protein in E. coli BL21 (DE3)

“…Cancer stem cells are a small subset of cancer cells that have considerable ability in selfrenewal and differentiation [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]. Today the methods commonly used in chemical therapy for the treatment of cancer cam only target the differentiated or differentiating cells forming a major part of the tumour mass.…”