We’ve learned that cancer stem cells can be a great tool for fighting cancer. They are capable of self-renewal and replication, and they are also multilineage. But what do we know about them and how can we use them to fight cancer? What are the potential benefits of using cancer stem cells as therapy? Let’s take a closer look. What do these cells do? And how do we use them to cure cancer?
These cancer cells are the source of all tumor cells in a malignant tumor. These cells have the potential to develop resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and cause distant metastases. They can also drive the growth of tumors if they are over-activated by mutations. In the study, Yang et al. found that cancer stem cells can drive cancer growth by altering the self-renewal process of cancer progenitors.
Researchers at Harvard University first saw cancer-causing mutations in these stem cells about 10 months ago. They shared their findings with stem cell scientists at a meeting last fall. Since then, they’ve begun DNA testing on some lines of cells. Until then, the scientists aren’t ruling out any treatment for cancer. But for now, they don’t have a great deal of confidence in any clinical trial. There’s still time to reverse these effects.
In addition to this model, there are many different types of cancers. AML and breast cancer are both examples. While these cells are different from one another, many have the same phenotype. In addition to containing a distinct gene, they are characterized by differences in driver mutations. For example, in one mouse model of breast cancer, CD61 is expressed enriched in the tumor cells. But when a cancer stem cell is isolated, it can be used to treat the disease.
Although an allogeneic stem cell transplant is the best option, this method is not available to everyone. Besides, only 30% of candidates qualify. There are age restrictions and shortage of donors. Autologous stem cells, on the other hand, are available easily. However, they are susceptible to contamination and recurrence of cancer. Moreover, there’s no evidence that PBSC transplants increase the overall survival rate.
Although cancer stem cells are an attractive treatment option, they are not easily targeted. Because they’re relatively quiescent and lack hyper-proliferation signals, they are resistant to anti-cancer drugs. Historically, anti-cancer drugs target rapidly dividing cancer cells. The deregulation of tumour suppressor gene PTEN, polycomb gene Bmi1, and the sonic hedgehog (Shh) gene make them a less attractive candidate for therapy.
The researchers have also found that cancer stem cells are resistant to radiation treatment. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy do not work on quiescent cancer stem cells, which may be the reason for resistance to them. To overcome cancer stem cell resistance, one must induce them to enter the cell cycle. However, this approach can be tricky, since treatment of cancer stem cells can lead to side effects. This is why cancer stem cells are so promising. So how can cancer stem cells help us in our fight against cancer?
