Cancer Stem Cells: Powerful Targets to Improve Current Anticancer Therapeutics.

ABSTRACT: A frequent observation in several malignancies is the development of resistance to therapy that results in frequent tumor relapse and metastasis. Much of the tumor resistance phenotype comes from its heterogeneity that halts the ability of therapeutic agents to eliminate all cancer cells effectively. Tumor heterogeneity is, in part, controlled by cancer stem cells (CSC). CSC may be considered the reservoir of cancer cells as they exhibit properties of self-renewal and plasticity and the capability of reestablishing a heterogeneous tumor cell population. The endowed resistance mechanisms of CSC are mainly attributed to several factors including cellular quiescence, accumulation of ABC transporters, disruption of apoptosis, epigenetic reprogramming, and metabolism. There is a current need to

SUBMITTER: Bighetti-Trevisan RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6874936 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature