title: Immunotargeting of cancer stem cells.
abstract: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a distinctive population of tumour cells that control tumour initiation, progression, and maintenance. Their influence is great enough to risk the statement that successful therapeutic strategy must target CSCs in order to eradicate the disease. Because cancer stem cells are highly resistant to chemo- and radiotherapy, new tools to fight against cancer have to be developed. Expression of antigens such as ALDH, CD44, EpCAM, or CD133, which distinguish CSCs from normal cells, together with CSC immunogenicity and relatively low toxicity of immunotherapies, makes immune targeting of CSCs a promising approach for cancer treatment. This review will present immunotherapeutic approaches using dendritic cells, T cells, pluripotent stem cells, and monoclonal antibodies to target and eliminate CSCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Immunology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland ; Diagnostic and Immunology Department, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Eliza P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Kwiatkowska-Borowczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Immunology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gąbka-Buszek
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Immunology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jankowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Immunology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland ; Diagnostic and Immunology Department, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mackiewicz
keywords: adoptive cell transfer; cancer; cancer stem cells; dendritic cells; monoclonal antibodies; tumour immunotherapy