Cancer Stem Cells

• Published in: Holland‐Frei Cancer Medicine pp. 1 - 12
• Main Authors: Bushnell, Grace G., Granger, Jill, Wicha, Max S.
• Format: Reference
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 26.02.2017; 21.10.2022
• Subjects: self‐renewal; tumor‐initiating cells; Notch; therapeutic targeting; cancer stem cells (CSCs); plasticity; EMT; heterogeneity; Hedgehog; metastasis; dormancy; cancer stem cells; MET; Wnt/β‐catenin
• ISBN: 9781118934692; 1118934695
• DOI: 10.1002/9781119000822.hfcm012

There is substantial evidence that many, if not most, tumors contain a subpopulation of cells that display stem cell properties. These “cancer stem cells” (CSC) play an important role in tumor initiation and propagation. Furthermore, these cells may mediate metastasis and resistance to cancer therapeutic agents and therefore play a fundamental role in cancer relapse. This highlights the importance of developing therapeutic approaches to target this cell population. In this article, we will review current thoughts on the role of tissue stem cells in carcinogenesis and the pathways that regulate the plasticity and heterogeneity of these cells. We will then review clinical implications of CSC in dormancy and metastasis and current efforts to therapeutically target these cells.
There is substantial evidence that many if not most tumors contain a subpopulation of cells that display stem cell properties. These “cancer stem cells” (CSCs) play an important role in tumor initiation and propagation. Furthermore, these cells may mediate resistance to cancer therapeutic agents and therefore play a fundamental role in cancer relapse. This highlights the importance of developing therapeutic approaches to target this cell population. In this chapter, we will review current thoughts on the role of tissue stem cells in carcinogenesis, the pathways that regulate these cells, and current progress in development of CSC targeting therapeutic agents. We will then review clinical implications of CSC models.