title: Pancreatic cancer stem cells: new insight into a stubborn disease.
abstract: Resistance to conventional therapy and early distant metastasis contribute to the unsatisfactory prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. The concept of cancer stem cells (CSCs) brings new insights into cancer biology and therapy. Many studies have confirmed the important role of these stem cells in carcinogenesis and the development of hematopoietic and solid cancers. Recent studies have shown that CSCs regulate aggressive behavior, recurrence, and drug resistance in pancreatic cancer. Here, we review recent advances in pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) research. Particular attention is paid to the regulation mechanisms of pancreatic cancer stem cell functions, such as stemness-related signaling pathways, microRNAs, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the tumor microenvironment, and the development of novel PCSCs targeted therapy. We seek to further understand PCSCs and explore potential therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, China.
authors.forename: Han-xiang
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, China.
authors.forename: Jian-wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China. Electronic address: tpingzhang@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tai-ping
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, China. Electronic address: husanyuan1962@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: San-yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Cancer stem cells; Chemotherapy resistance; Metastasis; Pancreatic cancer; microRNA