Constitutive expression and activation of stress response genes in cancer stem-like cells/tumour initiating cells: potent targets for cancer stem cell therapy.

Abstract

Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs)/tumour-initiating cells (TICs) are defined as the small population of cancer cells that have stem cell-like phenotypes and high capacity for tumour initiation. These cells may have a huge impact in the field of cancer therapy since they are extremely resistant to standard chemoradiotherapy and thus are likely to be responsible for disease recurrence after therapy. Therefore, extensive efforts are being made to elucidate the pathological and molecular properties of CSCs/TICs and, with this information, to establish efficient anti-CSC/TIC targeting therapies. This review considers recent findings on stress response genes that are preferentially expressed in CSCs/TICs and their roles in tumour-promoting properties. Implications for a novel therapeutic strategy targeting CSCs/TICs are also discussed.

• Authors: Toshihiko Torigoe, Yoshihiko Hirohashi, Kazuyo Yasuda, Noriyuki Sato
• Journal: International journal of hyperthermia : the official journal of European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology, North American Hyperthermia Group (Int J Hyperthermia) Vol. 29 Issue 5 Pg. 436-41 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 1464-5157 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23902339 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Heat-Shock Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
• Heat-Shock Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, therapy)
• Neoplastic Stem Cells (metabolism)
• Stress, Physiological (genetics)