ALDH1A3 is the switch that determines the balance of ALDH⁺ and CD24^-CD44⁺ cancer stem cells, EMT-MET, and glucose metabolism in breast cancer.

ABSTRACT: Plasticity is an inherent feature of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and regulates the balance of key processes required at different stages of breast cancer progression, including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) versus mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET), and glycolysis versus oxidative phosphorylation. Understanding the key factors that regulate the switch between these processes could lead to novel therapeutic strategies that limit tumor progression. We found that aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) regulates these cancer-promoting processes and the abundance of the two distinct breast CSC populations defined by high ALDH activity and CD24^-CD44⁺ cell surface expression. While ALDH1A3 increases ALDH⁺ breast cancer cells, it inversely suppresse

SUBMITTER: Fernando W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11493680 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature