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Signaling Pathways in Cancer Stem Cells: Therapeutic Implications

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Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Volume 5

Part of the book series: Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells ((STEM,volume 5))

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Abstract

Established therapeutic approaches for cancer do cause tumor shrinking but often fail to eradicate them, hypothetically due to the existence of cancer stem cells (CSC), which are quite resistant to radio- and chemotherapy due to certain intrinsic biological features. The surviving CSC population is suspected to account for tumor relapse that commonly occurs in patients. Aim of this chapter is to critically discuss upcoming therapies targeting CSC with particular emphasis on key signaling pathways involved in normal and cancer stem cells maintenance. Improved knowledge of the role of signaling pathways in CSC will be fundamental to understand the fine balancing between quiescence and proliferation in tumor initiating cells and to elaborate effective anti-cancer therapies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.O.C. Immunologia e Diagnostica Molecolare Oncologica, Istituto Oncologico Veneto – IRCCS, via Gattamelata, 64, 35128, Padova, Italy

    Anna Pastò, Alberto Amadori & Stefano Indraccolo

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  1. Anna Pastò
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  2. Alberto Amadori
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  3. Stefano Indraccolo
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Correspondence to Stefano Indraccolo .

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  1. , Kean University, Room 213, Library building, Morris Avenue 1000, Union, 07083, New Jersey, USA

    M.A. Hayat

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Pastò, A., Amadori, A., Indraccolo, S. (2012). Signaling Pathways in Cancer Stem Cells: Therapeutic Implications. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Volume 5. Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2900-1_1

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