Cancer stem cells as new therapeutic target to prevent tumour progression and metastasis.
Over the past decade, increasing evidence suggested that stem cells play a crucial role not only in the generation of complex multicellular organisms, but also in the development and progression of malignant diseases. For the most abundant tumours, it has been shown that they contain a subset of distinct cancer cells that is exclusively responsible for tumour initiation and propagation These cells are termed cancer stem cells or tumour-initiating cells and they are also highly resistant to chemotherapeutic agents. Because CSC are preferentially endowed with the self-renewal capacity, it has further been hypothesized that they are also exclusively responsible for metastasis. Indeed, we were able to show that pancreatic cancer stem cells contain a subpopulation of migrating cancer stem cells characterized by CXCR4 co-expression. Only these cells are capable of evading the primary tumour and metastasizing. Laboratories around the world are now aiming to further characterize these cells to eventually identify novel treatment modalities to fight cancer. Thus, cancer stem cells are promising new targets to counteract the growth-promoting and metastatic potential of solid tumours.
Mueller
Maria-Theresa
MT
Clinical Research Programme, Stem Cells and Cancer Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
Hermann
Patrick C
PC
Heeschen
Christopher
C
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4