Cancer Stem Cell Quiescence and Plasticity as Major Challenges in Cancer Therapy

Cells with stem-like properties, tumorigenic potential, and treatment-resistant phenotypes have been identified in many human malignancies. Based on the properties they share with nonneoplastic stem cells or their ability to initiate and propagate tumors in vivo, such cells were designated as cancer...

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Main Authors: Wanyin Chen, Jihu Dong, Jacques Haiech, Marie-Claude Kilhoffer, Maria Zeniou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Stem Cells International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1740936
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author Wanyin Chen
Jihu Dong
Jacques Haiech
Marie-Claude Kilhoffer
Maria Zeniou
author_facet Wanyin Chen
Jihu Dong
Jacques Haiech
Marie-Claude Kilhoffer
Maria Zeniou
author_sort Wanyin Chen
collection DOAJ
description Cells with stem-like properties, tumorigenic potential, and treatment-resistant phenotypes have been identified in many human malignancies. Based on the properties they share with nonneoplastic stem cells or their ability to initiate and propagate tumors in vivo, such cells were designated as cancer stem (stem-like) or tumor initiating/propagating cells. Owing to their implication in treatment resistance, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been the subject of intense investigation in past years. Comprehension of CSCs’ intrinsic properties and mechanisms they develop to survive and even enhance their aggressive phenotype within the hostile conditions of the tumor microenvironment has reoriented therapeutic strategies to fight cancer. This report provides selected examples of malignancies in which the presence of CSCs has been evidenced and briefly discusses methods to identify, isolate, and functionally characterize the CSC subpopulation of cancer cells. Relevant biological targets in CSCs, their link to treatment resistance, proposed targeting strategies, and limitations of these approaches are presented. Two major aspects of CSC physiopathology, namely, relative in vivo quiescence and plasticity in response to microenvironmental cues or treatment, are highlighted. Implications of these findings in the context of the development of new therapies are discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-6b10818c8dba4d3aacc968b07b64a1d22025-08-20T03:34:00ZengWileyStem Cells International1687-966X1687-96782016-01-01201610.1155/2016/17409361740936Cancer Stem Cell Quiescence and Plasticity as Major Challenges in Cancer TherapyWanyin Chen0Jihu Dong1Jacques Haiech2Marie-Claude Kilhoffer3Maria Zeniou4Laboratoire d’Innovation Thérapeutique, Université de Strasbourg/CNRS UMR7200, Laboratoire d’Excellence Medalis, Faculté de Pharmacie, 74 route du Rhin, 67401 Illkirch, FranceLaboratoire d’Innovation Thérapeutique, Université de Strasbourg/CNRS UMR7200, Laboratoire d’Excellence Medalis, Faculté de Pharmacie, 74 route du Rhin, 67401 Illkirch, FranceLaboratoire d’Innovation Thérapeutique, Université de Strasbourg/CNRS UMR7200, Laboratoire d’Excellence Medalis, Faculté de Pharmacie, 74 route du Rhin, 67401 Illkirch, FranceLaboratoire d’Innovation Thérapeutique, Université de Strasbourg/CNRS UMR7200, Laboratoire d’Excellence Medalis, Faculté de Pharmacie, 74 route du Rhin, 67401 Illkirch, FranceLaboratoire d’Innovation Thérapeutique, Université de Strasbourg/CNRS UMR7200, Laboratoire d’Excellence Medalis, Faculté de Pharmacie, 74 route du Rhin, 67401 Illkirch, FranceCells with stem-like properties, tumorigenic potential, and treatment-resistant phenotypes have been identified in many human malignancies. Based on the properties they share with nonneoplastic stem cells or their ability to initiate and propagate tumors in vivo, such cells were designated as cancer stem (stem-like) or tumor initiating/propagating cells. Owing to their implication in treatment resistance, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been the subject of intense investigation in past years. Comprehension of CSCs’ intrinsic properties and mechanisms they develop to survive and even enhance their aggressive phenotype within the hostile conditions of the tumor microenvironment has reoriented therapeutic strategies to fight cancer. This report provides selected examples of malignancies in which the presence of CSCs has been evidenced and briefly discusses methods to identify, isolate, and functionally characterize the CSC subpopulation of cancer cells. Relevant biological targets in CSCs, their link to treatment resistance, proposed targeting strategies, and limitations of these approaches are presented. Two major aspects of CSC physiopathology, namely, relative in vivo quiescence and plasticity in response to microenvironmental cues or treatment, are highlighted. Implications of these findings in the context of the development of new therapies are discussed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1740936
spellingShingle Wanyin Chen
Jihu Dong
Jacques Haiech
Marie-Claude Kilhoffer
Maria Zeniou
Cancer Stem Cell Quiescence and Plasticity as Major Challenges in Cancer Therapy
Stem Cells International
title Cancer Stem Cell Quiescence and Plasticity as Major Challenges in Cancer Therapy
title_full Cancer Stem Cell Quiescence and Plasticity as Major Challenges in Cancer Therapy
title_fullStr Cancer Stem Cell Quiescence and Plasticity as Major Challenges in Cancer Therapy
title_full_unstemmed Cancer Stem Cell Quiescence and Plasticity as Major Challenges in Cancer Therapy
title_short Cancer Stem Cell Quiescence and Plasticity as Major Challenges in Cancer Therapy
title_sort cancer stem cell quiescence and plasticity as major challenges in cancer therapy
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1740936
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