Leukemic stem cells: from metabolic pathways and signaling to a new concept of drug resistance targeting.
Cancer stem cells are a small subset of cancer cells constituting a reservoir of self-sustaining cells with the exclusive ability to self-renew and maintain the tumor. These cells are identified by specific stem cell markers: antigens, molecules and signaling pathways. Transcription factors and molecules associated with oncogenesis, such as NF-kappaB, Bmi-1, Notch, WNT beta-catenin, Sonic hedgehog and their biochemical pathways, active only in a small minority of cancer cells might play key roles in determining the biology and the overall long-term behavior of a tumor. The molecules and pathways specific for cancer stem cells, which contribute to their drug resistance, are potential targets for new therapeutic strategies.
Styczynski
Jan
J
Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Poland. jstyczynski@cm.umk.pl
Drewa
Tomasz
T
D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction