title: Tumor initiating cells and chemoresistance: which is the best strategy to target colon cancer stem cells?
abstract: There is an emerging body of evidence that chemoresistance and minimal residual disease result from selective resistance of a cell subpopulation from the original tumor that is molecularly and phenotypically distinct. These cells are called "cancer stem cells" (CSCs). In this review, we analyze the potential targeting strategies for eradicating CSCs specifically in order to develop more effective therapeutic strategies for metastatic colon cancer. These include induction of terminal epithelial differentiation of CSCs or targeting some genes expressed only in CSCs and involved in self-renewal and chemoresistance. Ideal targets could be cell regulators that simultaneously control the stemness and the resistance of CSCs. Another important aspect of cancer biology, which can also be harnessed to create novel broad-spectrum anticancer agents, is the Warburg effect, also known as aerobic glycolysis. Actually, little is yet known with regard to the metabolism of CSCs population, leaving an exciting unstudied avenue in the dawn of the emerging field of metabolomics.
authors: Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Paldino
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Gemelli Hospital, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Tesori
authors: Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Casalbore
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Gemelli Hospital, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Gasbarrini
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Gemelli Hospital, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Maria Ausiliatrice
authors: 0000-0002-8562-9902
authors: MA
authors: Puglisi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents