Cancer stem cells: A review from origin to therapeutic implications

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), also known as tumor-initiating cells (TICs), are elucidated as cells that can perpetuate themselves via autorestoration. These cells are highly resistant to current therapeutic approaches and are the main reason for cancer recurrence. Radiotherapy has made a lot of contributions to cancer treatment.However, despite continuous achievements, therapy resistance and tumor recurrence are still prevalent in most patients. This resistance might be partly related to the existence of CSCs. In the present study, recent advances in the investigation of different biological properties of CSCs, such as their origin, markers, characteristics, and targeting have been reviewed. We have also focused our discussion on radioresistance and adaptive responses of CSCs and their related extrinsic and intrinsic influential factors. In summary, we suggest CSCs as the prime therapeutic target for cancer treatment. K E Y W O R D S cancer stem cell, chemoresistance, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, radioresistance, therapeutic implication

A Marine Collagen-Based Biomimetic Hydrogel Recapitulates Cancer Stem Cell Niche and Enhances Progression and Chemoresistance in Human Ovarian Cancer

“…Our data revealed essentially similar efficiencies of CSC enrichment among the A2780, ES2, and R182 OC cells, as well as different ovarian CSC biomarkers (CD44 + , CD117 + , CD133 + , CD44 + /CD117 + , CD44 + /CD133 + , and CD117 + /CD133 + ), although there was a slight difference in the levels of CSC generation depending on types of cells, as well as the types of ovarian CSC biomarkers. It must also be stressed that, despite the continued debate on the existence of CSCs, a growing body of evidence indicates that they are the main source of chemoradioresistance and are thought to be the major cause of cancer therapy failure [ 7 , 21 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ]. Furthermore, CSCs have been proposed to be the key cells that have escaped chemotherapy by the development of an acquired drug resistance following chemotherapeutic treatments or irradiation.…”

Hadrontherapy Interactions in Molecular and Cellular Biology

“…Tumor cells that are irradiated by ions are less prone to invasion and mobility and switch to a stem cell-like phenotype (CSCs) [25]. CSCs have been implicated in tumor invasion, cancer recurrence, and radioresistance, but how these CSCs should be targeted efficiently remains unknown [26]. Conventional radiotherapy (x-rays) induces an adaptive response in tumors and their microenvironment, which might promote cellular plasticity and thus induce CSC properties in non-CSCs and, ultimately, radiation resistance.…”

<i>CD44</i> Genotypes Are Associated with Susceptibility and Tumor Characteristics in Colorectal Cancer Patients

“…CSCs are a group of tumor cells with self-renewal potential, recognized as responsible for tumor development, chemoresistance, metastasis and recurrence (Hen and Barkan 2019;Rossari et al 2019;Skandalis et al 2019). These cells express various specific or non-specific CSCs markers; some of them have been utilized for cell separation and characterization (Atashzar et al 2020). These markers increase in the advanced stages of many types of cancer and correlate with clinicopathological parameters, becoming valuable biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis (Atashzar et al 2020).…”

“…These cells express various specific or non-specific CSCs markers; some of them have been utilized for cell separation and characterization (Atashzar et al 2020). These markers increase in the advanced stages of many types of cancer and correlate with clinicopathological parameters, becoming valuable biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis (Atashzar et al 2020).…”