Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Zeng, Zhen
• Fu, Minyang
• Hu, Yuan
• Wei, Yuquan
• Wei, Xiawei
• Luo, Min

Titel

Regulation and signaling pathways in cancer stem cells: implications for targeted therapy for cancer

Ist Teil von

• Molecular cancer, 2023-10, Vol.22 (1), p.1-172, Article 172

Ort / Verlag

London: BioMed Central Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2023

Quelle

Springer Nature - Complete Springer Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Cancer stem cells (CSCs), initially identified in leukemia in 1994, constitute a distinct subset of tumor cells characterized by surface markers such as CD133, CD44, and ALDH. Their behavior is regulated through a complex interplay of networks, including transcriptional, post-transcriptional, epigenetic, tumor microenvironment (TME), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) factors. Numerous signaling pathways were found to be involved in the regulatory network of CSCs. The maintenance of CSC characteristics plays a pivotal role in driving CSC-associated tumor metastasis and conferring resistance to therapy. Consequently, CSCs have emerged as promising targets in cancer treatment. To date, researchers have developed several anticancer agents tailored to specifically target CSCs, with some of these treatment strategies currently undergoing preclinical or clinical trials. In this review, we outline the origin and biological characteristics of CSCs, explore the regulatory networks governing CSCs, discuss the signaling pathways implicated in these networks, and investigate the influential factors contributing to therapy resistance in CSCs. Finally, we offer insights into preclinical and clinical agents designed to eliminate CSCs.