title: Breast cancer stem cells: an update.
abstract: Breast cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in women with a high incidence of recurrence or treatment failure. Growing evidence suggests that cancer stem cells (CSCs) most likely contribute to tumour progression, spread and therapy failure. However, despite extensive research and the tremendous clinical potential of such cells in possible therapeutic management, the real nature of CSCs remains an enigma. In this review, we discuss the fundamental properties and molecular target of CSCs and focus on recent advances regarding the identification of CSC markers with emphasis on breast cancer and the underlying molecular mechanism of CSC phenotypes. We also discuss experimental evidence of targeting molecular pathways in order to modulate breast CSC behaviour in tumourigenesis and the controversies associated with it that potentially weaken the CSC model in breast cancer and other cancers as well.
authors: Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore. jabed.iqbal@sgh.com.sg
authors: Jabed
authors: J
authors: Iqbal
authors: Pek Yoon
authors: PY
authors: Chong
authors: Puay Hoon
authors: PH
authors: Tan
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Breast Cancer; Cancer Stem Cells; Molecular Oncology