Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
05:08
Targeted and Selective Treatment of Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Teratomas Using External Beam Radiation in a Small-animal Model
Published on: February 17, 2019
Heating cancer stem cells to reduce tumor relapse
Pier Giuseppe Pelicci1, Paola Dalton, Roberto Orecchia
1European Institute of Oncology, Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy. piergiuseppe.pelicci@ifom-ieo-campus.it
Breast Cancer Research : BCR
|May 18, 2011
Summary
Hyperthermia combined with radiation therapy can overcome cancer stem cell resistance. This approach inhibits cancer stem cells
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Radiation Oncology
Background:
- Tumour relapse is linked to intrinsically resistant cancer stem cells.
- Novel strategies are needed to enhance cancer stem cell sensitivity to treatments.
- Hyperthermia shows promise in combination cancer therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of hyperthermia in combination with ionizing radiation for overcoming cancer stem cell resistance.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which hyperthermia enhances radiosensitivity in cancer stem cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized laser-induced hyperthermia via gold nanoshells.
- Administered ionizing radiation to target tumour sites.
- Assessed cancer stem cell radiosensitivity and DNA repair capacity.
Main Results:
- The combination of hyperthermia and ionizing radiation significantly enhanced cancer stem cell radiosensitivity.
- Hyperthermia inhibited the DNA damage repair capacity of cancer stem cells.
- Improved tumour response was observed with the combined treatment.
Conclusions:
- Hyperthermia, when combined with ionizing radiation, is a promising strategy to target and eliminate resistant cancer stem cells.
- Inhibition of DNA repair mechanisms is a key factor in hyperthermia's efficacy.
- This approach holds significant clinical implications for preventing tumour relapse.
Related Concept Videos
02:40Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance
Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
02:40Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance
Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
01:21Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration
Stem cell therapy is a method used in regenerative medicine to repair and restore function to damaged tissues and organs. Stem cells have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into various tissue types, making them ideal candidates for tissue regeneration. For example, hematopoietic stem cell transplants are commonly used in blood cancer treatment to replenish damaged bone marrow and restore healthy blood cells.
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
02:49Cancer Therapies
Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...