title: Heterogeneity in cancer stem cells.
abstract: Accumulating evidence suggests that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are heterogeneous populations and their phenotypes are unstable. A number of intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms contribute to CSC phenotypic variation. The existence of various CSC subpopulations which would lead to a rapid relapse after primary treatments might pose a problem for CSC targeted therapeutics. In order to develop more effective approaches to cancer therapeutics, more CSC-related surface markers or targeting molecules, as well as some novel targeting strategies should be explored. This review summarized the origin and performance of heterogeneity in CSCs and discussed their therapeutic implications.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Suzhou Key Laboratory for Nanotheranostics, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Anxin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Suzhou Key Laboratory for Nanotheranostics, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Lisha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Suzhou Key Laboratory for Nanotheranostics, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Chunlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Suzhou Key Laboratory for Nanotheranostics, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China. Electronic address: ymzhu2008@sinano.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
keywords: Cancer stem cell; Heterogeneity; Surface marker; Targeting therapy