Research Progresses in Cancer Stem Cells of Three Common Fertility-Related Female Malignancies

• Published in: Pathology & Oncology Research Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 827 - 835
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xi-ping, Cheng, Qi-hui, Yang, Hong-jian, Qiao, En-qi
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.07.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Breast cancer; Cancer Research; Cervical cancer; Cervix; Drug resistance; Female; Females; Fertility; Fertility - physiology; Heterogeneity; Humans; Immunology; Malignancy; Metastases; Metastasis; Neoplasm Metastasis - pathology; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - pathology; Neoplastic Stem Cells - pathology; Oncology; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian carcinoma; Pathology; Stem cells; Tumors; Ovarian Cancer; Female; Malignant tumors; Cancer stem cells; Cervical Cancer; Breast Cancer
• ISSN: 1219-4956; 1532-2807
• DOI: 10.1007/s12253-018-0448-y

With abilities to renew themselves and lead to heterogeneity of tumors, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are similar to stem cells. As three leading causes of death that endanger women’s health, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and cervical cancer are characterized by high degree of malignancy, metastasis and recurrence. Associated with women’s fertility, these three malignancies are common and representative among females. These years, research findings have suggested that CSCs are closely connected with many cancers (including aforementioned three malignancies) and several processes of tumors such as their genesis and development. CSCs have become great concerns for current cancer treatment and interventions. This paper does not only summarize roles of CSCs in genesis, development, drug resistance, metastasis and recurrence of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and cervical cancer, but also proposes potential methods of treatment and intervention, in hope of inspiring readers and researchers.