Cancer stem cells in human gastrointestinal cancer

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be responsible for tumor initiation, drug and radiation resistance, invasive growth, metastasis, and tumor relapse, which are the main causes of cancer‐related deaths. Gastrointestinal cancers are the most common malignancies and still the most frequent cause of cancer‐related mortality worldwide. Because gastrointestinal CSCs are also thought to be resistant to conventional therapies, an effective and novel cancer treatment is imperative. The first reported CSCs in a gastrointestinal tumor were found in colorectal cancer in 2007. Subsequently, CSCs were reported in other gastrointestinal cancers, such as esophagus, stomach, liver, and pancreas. Specific phenotypes could be used to distinguish CSCs from non‐CSCs. For example, gastrointestinal CSCs express unique surface markers, exist in a side‐population fraction, show high aldehyde dehydrogenase‐1 activity, form tumorspheres when cultured in non‐adherent conditions, and demonstrate high tumorigenic potential in immunocompromised mice. The signal transduction pathways in gastrointestinal CSCs are similar to those involved in normal embryonic development. Moreover, CSCs are modified by the aberrant expression of several microRNAs. Thus, it is very difficult to target gastrointestinal CSCs. This review focuses on the current research on gastrointestinal CSCs and future strategies to abolish the gastrointestinal CSC phenotype.

The novel long noncoding RNA CRART16 confers cetuximab resistance in colorectal cancer cells by enhancing ERBB3 expression via miR-371a-5p

“…The presence of CSC subpopulations has been shown to be associated with tumor initiation, drug and radiation resistance, invasive growth, metastasis, and tumor relapse [43]. CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that has been recognized as a CSC marker in a variety of cancers [44].…”

The Epigenetic Landscape of Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

“…In the last 10 years, miRNAs have also provided new insights into gene regulation implicated in tumorigenesis and CSC biology [104]. Several miRNAs involved in CSC biology in different solid tumors have been identified: (i) miR-5703, miR-630, miR-1246, miR-424-5p and miR-320b were all deregulated in ovarian CSCs [105]; (ii) miR-34a, miR-200b/c, miR-203 and miR-137 appear to be critical in CRC CSCs [106]; (iii) the miR-200 family and miR-let7 family are crucial for CSC dynamics in breast cancer [107]; (iv) miR181-5p, miR153 and the miR17-92 cluster are relevant for the pancreatic CSC sub-population [45,108,109]. Remarkably, secreted exosomes from CSCs also orchestrate autocrine and paracrine functions, which alter the tumor microenvironment, as well as the growth and progression of the tumor.…”

Phase Ib/II study of safety and efficacy of low‐dose decitabine‐primed chemoimmunotherapy in patients with drug‐resistant relapsed/refractory alimentary tract cancer

“…Various organ cancers are categorized under AT malignancies, but the three most common are esophageal cancer (EC), gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC), which also account for three of the top five most frequently diagnosed and lethal cancers in China 3. Chemotherapy is the main therapeutic option for AT cancer patients, but the prognosis has not improved significantly in recent years due to intrinsic or acquired drug resistance 4, 5, 6, 7…”