title: Targeting breast cancer initiating cells: advances in breast cancer research and therapy.
abstract: Over the past 10 years there have been significant advances in our understanding of breast cancer and the important roles that breast cancer initiating cells (CICs) play in the development and resistance of breast cancer. Breast CICs endowed with self-renewing and tumor-initiating capacities are believed to be responsible for the relapses which often occur after various breast cancer therapies. In this review, we will summarize some of the key developments in breast CICs which will include discussion of some of the key genes implicated: estrogen receptor (ER), HER2, BRCA1, TP53, PIK3CA, RB, P16INK1 and various miRs as well some drugs which are showing promise in targeting CICs. In addition, the concept of combined therapies will be discussed. Basic and clinical research is resulting in novel approaches to improve breast cancer therapy by targeting the breast CICs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Brody Building 5N98C, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. Electronic address: mccubreyj@ecu.edu.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McCubrey
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Brody Building 5N98C, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Brody Building 5N98C, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Abrams
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biomedicina e Immunologia Molecolare "Alberto Monroy", Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montalto
authors.affiliation: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biomedicina e Immunologia Molecolare "Alberto Monroy", Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Melchiorre
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cervello
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libra
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Antonino B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: D'Assoro
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cocco
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Brody Building 5N98C, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Steelman
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011506:Proteins
keywords: Cancer stem cells; ER; HER2; Hormonal therapy; Targeted therapy; Therapy resistance; miRs