The roles of ncRNAs and histone-modifiers in regulating breast cancer stem cells.
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a subpopulation of cancer cells with ability of initiating tumorigenesis, exist in many kinds of tumors including breast cancer. Cancer stem cells contribute to treatment resistance and relapse. Conventional treatments only kill differentiated cancer cells, but spare CSCs. Combining conventional treatments with therapeutic drugs targeting to CSCs will eradicate cancer cells more efficiently. Studying the molecular mechanisms of CSCs regulation is essential for developing new therapeutic strategies. Growing evidences showed CSCs are regulated by non-coding RNA (ncRNA) including microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and histone-modifiers, such as let-7, miR-93, miR-100, HOTAIR, Bmi-1 and EZH2. Herein we review the roles of microRNAs, lncRNAs and histone-modifiers especially Polycomb family proteins in regulating breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs).
Innovation Center for Cell Signalling and the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
Zhiju
Z
Zhao
Department of Pathophysiology, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241002, China.
Shu
S
Li
Department of Breast Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
Erwei
E
Song
Innovation Center for Cell Signalling and the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China. suling@ustc.edu.cn.
Suling
S
Liu
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D006657:Histones; D022661:RNA, Untranslated
Polycomb group proteins; breast cancer stem cells; histone-modifier; lncRNA; microRNA