title: The role of cancer stem cells in breast cancer initiation and progression: potential cancer stem cell-directed therapies.
abstract: Recent studies have identified a small population of highly tumorigenic cells with stem cell properties in human breast and other solid tumors that are considered to be the source of tumor initiation and maintenance; these cells are referred to as cancer stem cells (CSCs). Preclinical data suggest that current breast cancer treatment strategies lead to CSC enrichment, contributing to chemotherapy and radiotherapy resistance, although a strong correlation with clinical parameters and prognosis is yet to be established. Importantly, overcoming treatment failure by effective targeting of CSCs may be an appealing approach, potentially leading to improved clinical outcomes for patients with breast cancer. Several preclinical studies provide promising results that support this hypothesis. The purpose of this review is to summarize the role of CSCs in breast cancer recurrence and resistance and to discuss current attempts of CSC targeting.
authors.affiliation: University of Athens Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Goudi 11527, Athens, Greece. panagiota_oiko@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Economopoulou
authors.forename: Virginia G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Kaklamani
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Siziopikou
mesh_terms: D000080924:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D051927:CD24 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D011714:Pyrans / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050697:Retinal Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000095662:Polyether Polyketides
chemical_list: D000080924:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family; D051927:CD24 Antigen; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008687:Metformin; D011714:Pyrans; D050697:Retinal Dehydrogenase; C010327:salinomycin; D000095662:Polyether Polyketides; C510223:ALDH1A1 protein, human