Cancer Stem Cells and their Management in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Background: In the last decade, the proposed Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) hypothesis has steadily changed the way we are approaching cancer treatment. CSCs may be the source of the heterogeneous non-tumorigenic cell population included in a neoplasm. Intratumor and intertumoral heterogeneity is a well-known phenomenon that massively entangles the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The literature seems to suggest that heterogeneity develops progressively as tumorinitiating stem cells. CSCs harbor genetic and/or epigenetic alterations that allow them to differentiate into multiple tumor cell types sequentially. Objective: We reviewed the CSC hypothesis, cellular therapy, and the most recent patents on CSCs. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were screened for this information. Also, we provide an analysis of the most recent data targeting CSCs in pediatric cancer developed at two Canadian institutions. We highlight the genes involved with the activation of CSCs and the drugs used to antagonize them. Results: We underline that (1) CSCs possess stem cell-like properties, including the ability for self-renewal; (2) CSCs can start carcinogenesis and are responsible for tumor recurrence after treatment; (3) Although some limitations have been raised, which may oppose the CSC hypothesis, cancer progression and metastasis have been recognized to be caused by CSCs. Conclusions: The significant roles of cell therapy may include an auto-transplant with high-dose treatment, an improvement of the immune function, the creation of chimeric antigen receptor T cells, and the recruitment of NK cellbased immunotherapy.

An overview of the past decade of bufalin in the treatment of refractory and drug-resistant cancers: current status, challenges, and future perspectives

“…CSCs are a subset of cancer cells with self-renewal ability ( Shenouda et al, 2020 ; Carvalho et al, 2021 ). They play a critical role in cancer initiation and progression and are naturally resistant to anticancer agents, which cause cancer recurrence and MDR ( Aravindan et al, 2019 ; Fong et al, 2021 ).…”

“…CSCs are a set of sub-population cells with self-renewal and differentiation characteristics, possibly contributing to tumor formation and relapse ( Shenouda et al, 2020 ). CSCs are naturally drug-resistant, possibly due to their intrinsic property and strengthened defensive weapons compared to non-CSCs ( Carvalho et al, 2021 ; Fong et al, 2021 ; Miyoshi et al, 2021 ).…”

In Situ Neuroblastoma: The Intriguing “Tumor” of Neuroectodermal Origin and the Putative Cancer Stem Cells

“…Intratumor and intertumoral heterogeneity is now well-established, and they bring in huge challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of neoplasia. The literature seems to suggest that heterogeneity arises gradually as tumor-initiating (carcinoma) stem cells (18). They harbor genetic and/or epigenetic changes that permit them to serially separate into multiple tumor cell types.…”

Suppression of CD13 Enhances the Cytotoxic Effect of Chemotherapeutic Drugs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

“…CD13, a biomarker of human liver CSCs, which is associated with the self-renewal, differentiation potential, signal transduction, drug resistance, recurrence and prognosis of liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) ( Christ et al, 2011 ; Kim et al, 2012 ). CSCs possess stem cell-like properties, including the ability for self-renewal and CSCs can start carcinogenesis and are responsible for tumor recurrence after treatment ( Shenouda et al, 2020 ). Our previous studies have confirmed that inhibition of CD13 could increase the sensitivity of HCC cell to 5FU and reverse their drug resistance, thereby indicating that CD13 is potential therapeutic target.…”