title: Cancer stem cells in human gastrointestinal cancer.
abstract: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be responsible for tumor initiation, drug and radiation resistance, invasive growth, metastasis, and tumor relapse, which are the main causes of cancer-related deaths. Gastrointestinal cancers are the most common malignancies and still the most frequent cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Because gastrointestinal CSCs are also thought to be resistant to conventional therapies, an effective and novel cancer treatment is imperative. The first reported CSCs in a gastrointestinal tumor were found in colorectal cancer in 2007. Subsequently, CSCs were reported in other gastrointestinal cancers, such as esophagus, stomach, liver, and pancreas. Specific phenotypes could be used to distinguish CSCs from non-CSCs. For example, gastrointestinal CSCs express unique surface markers, exist in a side-population fraction, show high aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 activity, form tumorspheres when cultured in non-adherent conditions, and demonstrate high tumorigenic potential in immunocompromised mice. The signal transduction pathways in gastrointestinal CSCs are similar to those involved in normal embryonic development. Moreover, CSCs are modified by the aberrant expression of several microRNAs. Thus, it is very difficult to target gastrointestinal CSCs. This review focuses on the current research on gastrointestinal CSCs and future strategies to abolish the gastrointestinal CSC phenotype.
authors: The Center for Antibody and Vaccine Therapy, Research Hospital, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Taniguchi
authors: The Center for Antibody and Vaccine Therapy, Research Hospital, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Chiharu
authors: C
authors: Moriya
authors: The Center for Antibody and Vaccine Therapy, Research Hospital, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Hisayoshi
authors: H
authors: Igarashi
authors: The Center for Antibody and Vaccine Therapy, Research Hospital, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Anri
authors: A
authors: Saitoh
authors: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, and Clinical Immunology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Adachi
authors: The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Kohzoh
authors: K
authors: Imai
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Cancer stem cell; drug resistance; gastrointestinal cancer; neoplasm metastasis; phenotype of cancer stem cell