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Therapeutics Targeting Cancer Stem Cell Signalling Pathways

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Cancer Stem Cells: Basic Concept and Therapeutic Implications

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Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small population of G0-arrested tumor cells. They contribute to the metastasis, recurrence, and heterogeneity of cancers. CSCs render conventional therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation, to be inadequate in several cancer types. Aberrant signalling pathways in these CSCs, which lead to their self-renewal and proliferative capacity, have been an area of research for which cancer therapeutics are targeted against. These signalling pathways include Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog, NF-Kβ, JAK-STAT, TGF-β/Smad, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR. Majority of the therapeutics targeted against these pathways are under clinical trials. These include antibodies, small molecules, synthetic compounds, and phytomedicines. This chapter will provide an overview of the signalling pathways in CSCs, examples of cancers in which aberrant signalling occurs, and the potential therapies targeted against these pathways.

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Abbreviations

β-TrCP:

β transducin repeat-containing protein

ALDH:

Aldehyde dehygrogenase

APC:

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli

Bcl:

B cell lymphoma

Bcl-xl:

B cell lymphoma-extra large

CD:

Cluster of differentiation

CK1-α:

Casein kinase 1-α

DLL:

Delta-like ligand

Dvl:

Disheveled

Fc:

Fragment crystallizable

Fzd:

Frizzled

Gli:

Glioma-associated oncogene

GSK-3β:

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β

Hes1:

Hairy and enhancer of split-1

Ig:

Immunoglobulin

IGF-2:

Insulin-like growth factor 2

IkB:

Nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cell inhibitor

IL:

Interleukin

JAG:

Jagged ligand

MCF7:

Michigan Cancer Foundation-7

Myc:

Master Regulator of Cell Cycle Entry and Proliferative Metabolism

Oct4:

Octamer-binding transcription factor 4

PHLPP:

Pleckstrin homology (PH) domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase

PP2A:

Protein phosphatase 2A

PTEN:

Phosphatase and tensin homologue

RANK:

Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B

RNA:

Ribonucleic acid

TNF:

Tumor necrosis factor

Wnt:

Wingless and integration 1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

    Jilsy M. J. Punnasseril & Vinod Gopalan

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

    Farhadul Islam

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  1. Jilsy M. J. Punnasseril
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  2. Vinod Gopalan
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  3. Farhadul Islam
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Correspondence to Farhadul Islam .

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  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

    Farhadul Islam

  2. School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

    Alfred K. Lam

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Punnasseril, J.M.J., Gopalan, V., Islam, F. (2023). Therapeutics Targeting Cancer Stem Cell Signalling Pathways. In: Islam, F., Lam, A.K. (eds) Cancer Stem Cells: Basic Concept and Therapeutic Implications. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3185-9_11

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