title: CD26 a cancer stem cell marker and therapeutic target.
abstract: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) comprise a tumor subpopulation responsible for tumor maintenance, resistance to chemotherapy, recurrence and metastasis. The identification of this cell group is very important, but there is still no consensus on its characterization. Several CSC markers have been described, like CD133, CD24, CD44 and ALDH1, but more research to identify new markers to facilitate the identification of CSC in a heterogeneous tumoral mass is required. Thus, this article describes the CD26 expression as a CSC marker and the role that it plays in different types of cancer. CD26 expression correlates with some characteristics of CSCs, like the formation of spheres in vitro, formation of new tumors, and resistance to chemotherapy. CD26 is therefore suggested as an auxiliary marker for CSC in different types of cancer, and as a potential therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemical and Cytological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemical and Cytological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beckenkamp
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemical and Cytological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: andreia.buffon@ufrgs.br.
authors.forename: Andréia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buffon
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4
keywords: CD26; CSC marker; Cancer stem cells; Indifferentiation marker; Therapeutic target