The Significance of Cancer Stem Cells and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Metastasis and Anti-Cancer Therapy.
Int J Mol Sci
; 24(3)2023 Jan 29.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36768876
ABSTRACT
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified and characterized in both hematopoietic and solid tumors. Their existence was first predicted by Virchow and Cohnheim in the 1870s. Later, many studies showed that CSCs can be identified and isolated by their expression of specific cell markers. The significance of CSCs with respect to tumor biology and anti-cancer treatment lies in their ability to maintain quiescence with very slow proliferation, indefinite self-renewal, differentiation, and trans-differentiation such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its reverse process mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). The ability for detachment, migration, extra- and intravasation, invasion and thereby of completing all necessary steps of the metastatic cascade highlights their significance for metastasis. CSCs comprise the cancer cell populations responsible for tumor growth, resistance to therapies and cancer metastasis. In this review, the history of the CSC theory, their identification and characterization and their biology are described. The contribution of the CSC ability to undergo EMT for cancer metastasis is discussed. Recently, novel strategies for drug development have focused on the elimination of the CSCs specifically. The unique functional and molecular properties of CSCs are discussed as possible therapeutic vulnerabilities for the development of novel anti-metastasis treatments. Prospectively, this may provide precise personalized anti-cancer treatments with improved therapeutic efficiency with fewer side effects and leading to better prognosis.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Transición Epitelial-Mesenquimal
/
Neoplasias
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Mol Sci
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Alemania