Abstract
Recent discoveries have provided the compelling evidence that stem cell populations within each individual tumor are key contributors of therapy failure regardless of whether these populations are transient or stable. Thus, it is becoming increasingly clear that efficient tumor treatment requires eradication of the entire CSC population. The potential role of CSCs in tumor initiation and relapse has motivated an investigation of the CSCspecific treatments. However, development of the therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs might be challenged by a high diversity and plasticity of CSC features. Moreover, taking in account that an origin of CSC remains controversial and accumulating experimental evidence suggests a possibility of tumor cell reprogramming, efficient anti-cancer treatment should eradicate both CSCs and tumor bulk as well as prevent tumor dedifferentiation. In this article we discuss new insights into the stem cell concept of tumor development, review the treatment strategies eradicating CSCs that have been evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies and summarize the strategies to identify new CSC-targeted therapy.
Keywords: Cancer stem cells (CSCs), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), tumor heterogeneity, clonal evolution, CSC plasticity, CSC-targeted therapy.
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Targeting Cancer Stem Cells: Promises and Challenges
Volume: 16 Issue: 1
Author(s): Jan Dominik Kuhlmann, Linda Hein, Ina Kurth, Pauline Wimberger and Anna Dubrovska
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cancer stem cells (CSCs), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), tumor heterogeneity, clonal evolution, CSC plasticity, CSC-targeted therapy.
Abstract: Recent discoveries have provided the compelling evidence that stem cell populations within each individual tumor are key contributors of therapy failure regardless of whether these populations are transient or stable. Thus, it is becoming increasingly clear that efficient tumor treatment requires eradication of the entire CSC population. The potential role of CSCs in tumor initiation and relapse has motivated an investigation of the CSCspecific treatments. However, development of the therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs might be challenged by a high diversity and plasticity of CSC features. Moreover, taking in account that an origin of CSC remains controversial and accumulating experimental evidence suggests a possibility of tumor cell reprogramming, efficient anti-cancer treatment should eradicate both CSCs and tumor bulk as well as prevent tumor dedifferentiation. In this article we discuss new insights into the stem cell concept of tumor development, review the treatment strategies eradicating CSCs that have been evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies and summarize the strategies to identify new CSC-targeted therapy.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Kuhlmann Dominik Jan, Hein Linda, Kurth Ina, Wimberger Pauline and Dubrovska Anna, Targeting Cancer Stem Cells: Promises and Challenges, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2016; 16 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871520615666150716104152
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871520615666150716104152 |
Print ISSN 1871-5206 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5992 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Induction of cell death in cancer cells by modulating telomerase activity using small molecule drugs
Telomeres are distinctive but short stretches present at the corners of chromosomes and aid in stabilizing chromosomal makeup. Resynthesis of telomeres supported by the activity of reverse transcriptase ribonucleoprotein complex telomerase. There is no any telomerase activity in human somatic cells, but the stem cells and germ cells undergone telomerase ...read more
Role of natural compounds as anti anti-cancer agents
Cancer is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy remains an important approach in treatment o f several types of cancers, even though ...read more
Signaling and enzymatic modulators in cancer treatment
Cancer accounts for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022 and is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are the most important approach for the treatment of several ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Natural Compounds and Plant Extracts as Therapeutics Against Chronic Inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease - A Translational Perspective
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Current Status and Future Prospects of C1 Domain Ligands as Drug Candidates
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) to Counteract Tumour- Induced ImmuneDysfunction: From Biochemistry to Clinical Development
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Reactive Oxygen Species in Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Anti-cancer Actions of Vitamin D
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Emerging Technologies for Fertility Preservation in Female Patients
Current Women`s Health Reviews Chronopharmacology and Antimicrobial Therapeutics
Current Clinical Pharmacology Improved Therapeutic Targeting of the Androgen Receptor: Rational Drug Design Improves Survival in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Current Drug Targets Adrenoceptors: Non Conventional Target for Breast Cancer?
Current Medicinal Chemistry A New Approach for β-cyclodextrin Conjugated Drug Delivery System in Cancer Therapy
Current Drug Delivery Di / tri-Peptide Transporters as Drug Delivery Targets: Regulation of Transport Under Physiological and Patho-physiological Conditions
Current Drug Targets Mechanism-based Combinations with Pim Kinase Inhibitors in Cancer Treatments
Current Pharmaceutical Design Absorption, Disposition and Pharmacokinetics of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles
Current Drug Metabolism Pegylated Interferons for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery Post-Translational Control of Sp-Family Transcription Factors
Current Genomics Targeting Kruppel-Like Factor 5 (KLF5) for Cancer Therapy
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry What is Currently the Best Radiopharmaceutical for the Hybrid PET/CT Detection of Recurrent Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma?
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Hepatocarcinogenesis and Ceramide/Cholesterol Metabolism
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Prevention of Cancer in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract with COX-Inhibition. Still an Option?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Modulatory Effects of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ on CXCR3 Chemokines
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery