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Dynamic regulation of cancer stem cells and clinical challenges

Clinical and Translational Oncology volume 15, pages 253–258 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

A small population of cancer cells referred to as cancer stem cells (CSCs) have received particular attention, as they have been revealed to acquire stem cell-like properties and become the main cause of tumor propagation, metastasis and drug resistance. The CSC theory of tumor formation was believed to follow the hierarchical model initially, and therefore many CSC-targeted therapy methods were expected to cure cancer by eradicating CSCs. However, subsequent CSC research has revealed that rather than a distinct entity, the CSC is a dynamic status that can be continually dedifferentiated from progenitor or differentiated cancer cells. Elucidation of this bidirectional transition mechanism would help perfect the CSC theory and be of great value in the development of more effective anti-cancer drugs. Here, we reviewed the mechanisms of reciprocal conversion between non-CSCs and CSCs. Moreover, several approaches of target CSCs and non-CSCs together with unbiased eradication of all cancer cells are also discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the members of the group for useful discussions.

Conflict of interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

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Affiliations

  1. Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education; Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China

    Chao Ni & Jian Huang

  2. Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China

    Jian Huang

Authors
  1. Chao Ni
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  2. Jian Huang
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Correspondence to Jian Huang.

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Ni, C., Huang, J. Dynamic regulation of cancer stem cells and clinical challenges. Clin Transl Oncol 15, 253–258 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-012-0927-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-012-0927-7

Keywords

  • Cancer stem cells
  • Reprogramming
  • Dedifferentiation
  • Epigenetics
  • Microenvironment