Potential role of cancer stem cells as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cervical cancer

Abstract

Background Eradicating cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are termed as the “beating heart” of various malignant tumors, including cervical cancer, holds great importance in cancer therapeutics. CSCs not only confer chemo‐radio resistance but also play an important role in tumor metastasis and thereby pose a potential barrier for the cure of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer, a common malignancy among females, is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, and the study on CSCs residing in the niche is promising. Recent findings Biomarker approach to screen the cervical CSCs has gained impetus since the past decade. Progress in identification and characterization of the stem cell biomarkers has led to many insights. For the diagnostic purpose, several biomarkers like viral (HPV16), stem cell markers, transcription factors (viz, SOX2, OCT 4, and c‐Myc), and CSC surface markers (viz, ALDH1 and CD44) have been identified. The research so far has been directed to study the CSC stemness and demonstrates various gene expression signatures in cervical CSCs. Such studies hold a potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and predict therapeutic response and clinical outcome in patients. Conclusions Stem cell biomarkers have been validated and their therapeutic targets are being developed as “strategies to improve therapeutic ratio in personalized medicine.” This review gives a brief overview of the cervical CSC biomarkers, their current and future diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential.

ITGA7, CD133, ALDH1 are inter‐correlated, and linked with poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis as well as worse survival in surgical cervical cancer

“…Interestingly, previous studies show that CD133 serves as a biomarker for CSC properties and prognosis in cervical cancer 14,15 . Beyond that, ALDH1 is also linked with the CSC properties and serves as a prognostic indicator in cervical cancer 16 . Furthermore, another study illuminates that highly expressed ALDH1 is associated with enhanced radioresistant in cervical cancer model via regulating CSC properties 17 .…”

SOX2 as a prognostic marker and a potential molecular target in cervical cancer: A meta-analysis

“…31 Increasing evidence suggests that CSCs are responsible for cervical cancer development, recurrence, and prognosis. 32,33 CSCs markers have the potential to predict therapeutic therapy response. 33 SOX2 is a key embryonic stem cell gene that has a crucial role in regulating stem cell selfrenewal and pluripotency.…”

“…32,33 CSCs markers have the potential to predict therapeutic therapy response. 33 SOX2 is a key embryonic stem cell gene that has a crucial role in regulating stem cell selfrenewal and pluripotency. 7,9 SOX2 also acts as an essential factor for cellular reprogramming and is associated with cell proliferation, cellular apoptosis, and oncogenic pathways and processes.…”

Gynecologic Cancer, Cancer Stem Cells, and Possible Targeted Therapies

“…Several CSC-specific markers and signaling pathways could be treatment targets for CSCs, although they have not been extensively studied in CC. Moreover, several therapeutic methods have been proposed and evaluated to attack CSCs ( Sudhalkar et al, 2019 ). One new therapeutic approach involves CSC-targeted nanoparticles (NPs), in which the NPs are designed to affect stem cell-associated functions via targeting specific signaling pathways such as Notch, reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling, CSC-specific markers, or Wnt/β-catenin.…”