title: Cancer stem cells: biological functions and therapeutically targeting.
abstract: Almost all tumors are composed of a heterogeneous cell population, making them difficult to treat. A small cancer stem cell population with a low proliferation rate and a high tumorigenic potential is thought to be responsible for cancer development, metastasis and resistance to therapy. Stem cells were reported to be involved in both normal development and carcinogenesis, some molecular mechanisms being common in both processes. No less controversial, stem cells are considered to be important in treatment of malignant diseases both as targets and drug carriers. The efforts to understand the role of different signalling in cancer stem cells requires in depth knowledge about the mechanisms that control their self-renewal, differentiation and malignant potential. The aim of this paper is to discuss insights into cancer stem cells historical background and to provide a brief review of the new therapeutic strategies for targeting cancer stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, Craiova 710204, Romania. meciurea@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marius Eugen
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ciurea
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, Craiova 710204, Romania. ada_georgescu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ada Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Georgescu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, Craiova 710204, Romania. stoapo@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Stefana Oana
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Purcaru
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, Craiova 710204, Romania. stefan.artene@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Stefan-Alexandru
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Artene
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, Craiova 710204, Romania. ghazaleh_ei@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Ghazaleh Hooshyar
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Emami
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Bank Unit, Medico Science SRL, Str. Brazda lui Novac nr. 1B, Craiova 200690, Romania. info@medicoscience.ro.
authors.forename: Mihai Virgil
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Boldeanu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, Craiova 710204, Romania. dodolita@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Daniela Elise
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Tache
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str. Petru Rares nr. 2-4, Craiova 710204, Romania. anica.dricu@live.co.uk.
authors.forename: Anica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dricu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents