Cancer stem cell niche models and contribution by mesenchymal stroma/stem cells.
The initiation and progression of malignant tumors is driven by distinct subsets of tumor-initiating or cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) which develop therapy/apoptosis resistance and self-renewal capacity. In order to be able to eradicate these CSCs with novel classes of anti-cancer therapeutics, a better understanding of their biology and clinically-relevant traits is mandatory.



Several requirements and functions of a CSC niche physiology are combined with current concepts for CSC generation such as development in a hierarchical tumor model, by stochastic processes, or via a retrodifferentiation program. Moreover, progressive adaptation of endothelial cells and recruited immune and stromal cells to the tumor site substantially contribute to generate a tumor growth-permissive environment resembling a CSC niche. Particular emphasis is put on the pivotal role of multipotent mesenchymal stroma/stem cells (MSCs) in supporting CSC development by various kinds of interaction and cell fusion to form hybrid tumor cells.



A better knowledge of CSC niche physiology may increase the chances that cancer stemness-depleting interventions ultimately result in arrest of tumor growth and metastasis.
Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Medical University Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D - 30625, Hannover, Germany.
Catharina
C
Melzer
Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Medical University Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D - 30625, Hannover, Germany.
Juliane
J
von der Ohe
First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Hendrik
H
Lehnert
First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.|Department of General, Visceral-, Thoracic-Transplantation- and Pediatric Surgery, UKSH, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
Hendrik
H
Ungefroren
Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Medical University Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D - 30625, Hannover, Germany. hass.ralf@mh-hannover.de.
Ralf
0000-0002-2481-7547
R
Hass
D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D000066673:Cell Self Renewal; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D055153:Stem Cell Niche
Cancer stem cells; MSC; Retrodifferentiation; Tumor cell interaction; Tumor microenvironment