title: Emerging roles of Krüppel-like factor 4 in cancer and cancer stem cells.
abstract: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are rare subpopulations within tumors which are recognized as culprits in cancer recurrence, drug resistance and metastasis. However, the molecular mechanisms of how CSCs are regulated remain elusive. Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) are evolutionarily conserved zinc finger-containing transcription factors with diverse functions in cell differentiation, proliferation, embryogenesis and pluripotency. Recent progress has highlighted the significance of KLFs, especially KLF4, in cancer and CSCs. Therefore, for better therapeutics of cancer disease, it is crucial to develop a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of how KLF4 regulate CSC functions. Herein we summarized the current understanding of the transcriptional regulation of KLF4 in CSCs, and discussed the functional implications of targeting CSCs for potential cancer therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Shandong University, China E-mail : wangchl201215@163.com.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Chun-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C000715467:KLF4 protein, human; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors