Nanoparticles for Drug and Gene Delivery in Pediatric Brain Tumors' Cancer Stem Cells: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives.

ABSTRACT: Primary malignant brain tumors are the most common solid neoplasm in childhood. Despite recent advances, many children affected by aggressive or metastatic brain tumors still present poor prognosis, therefore the development of more effective therapies is urgent. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been discovered and isolated in both pediatric and adult patients with brain tumors (e.g., medulloblastoma, gliomas and ependymoma). CSCs are a small clonal population of cancer cells responsible for brain tumor initiation, maintenance and progression, displaying resistance to conventional anticancer therapies. CSCs are characterized by a specific repertoire of surface markers and intracellular specific pathways. These unique features of CSCs biology offer the opportunity to build therapeutic approach

SUBMITTER: Abballe L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9962005 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature