title: Targeted therapy aimed at cancer stem cells: Wilms' tumor as an example.
abstract: Wilms' tumor (WT), a common renal pediatric solid tumor, serves as a model for a malignancy formed by renal precursor cells that have failed to differentiate properly. Here we review recent evidence showing that the tumors' heterogeneous cell population contains a small fraction of cancer stem cells (CSC) identified by two markers: Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (NCAM1) expression and Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) enzymatic activity. In vivo studies show these CSCs to both self-renew and differentiate to give rise to all tumor components. Similar to other malignancies, the identification of a specific CSC fraction has allowed the examination of a novel targeted therapy, aimed at eradicating the CSC population. The loss of CSCs abolishes the tumor's ability to sustain and propagate, hence, causing tumor degradation with minimal damage to normal tissue.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Stem Cell Research Institute, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Tel Hashomer, 52621, Israel.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shukrun
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pode Shakked
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dekel
mesh_terms: D000080924:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D050697:Retinal Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D019002:CD56 Antigen; D007527:Isoenzymes; C522918:NCAM1 protein, human; D000080924:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family; C510223:ALDH1A1 protein, human; D050697:Retinal Dehydrogenase