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Updated: Apr 30, 2026
Harnessing the DNA Dye-triggered Side Population Phenotype to Detect and Purify Cancer Stem Cells from Biological Samples
Published on: May 10, 2017
Chemical approaches to targeting drug resistance in cancer stem cells
Panagiota A Sotiropoulou1, Michael S Christodoulou2, Alessandra Silvani2
1Interdisciplinary Research Institute (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 808 route de Lennik, BatC, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium.
Abstract:
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells with high clonogenic capacity and ability to reform parental tumors upon transplantation. Resistance to therapy has been shown for several types of CSC and, therefore, they have been proposed as the cause of tumor relapse. Consequently, much effort has been made to design molecules that can target CSCs specifically and sensitize them to therapy. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms underlying CSC resistance, the potential biological targets to overcome resistance and the chemical compounds showing activity against different types of CSC. The chemical compounds discussed here have been divided according to their origin: natural, natural-derived and synthetic compounds.
Insights
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive tumor relapse due to therapy resistance. This review explores CSC resistance mechanisms, targets, and natural, derived, and synthetic compounds to overcome CSC-mediated treatment failure.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cancer stem cells (CSCs) possess high clonogenic potential and tumor-regenerating capacity.
- CSCs are implicated in therapeutic resistance and tumor relapse across various cancer types.
- Targeting CSCs is crucial for developing effective cancer therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review mechanisms of CSC resistance to cancer therapies.
- To identify potential biological targets for overcoming CSC resistance.
- To summarize chemical compounds with activity against CSCs.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on CSC resistance mechanisms.
- Analysis of biological targets implicated in CSC survival and resistance.
- Categorization of chemical compounds (natural, natural-derived, synthetic) based on their anti-CSC activity.
Main Results:
- CSCs exhibit multiple resistance mechanisms contributing to treatment failure.
- Several biological targets are proposed to overcome CSC resistance.
- A range of natural, natural-derived, and synthetic compounds show promise in targeting CSCs.
Conclusions:
- Understanding CSC resistance mechanisms is key to developing novel therapeutic strategies.
- Targeting CSCs and utilizing specific chemical compounds may improve treatment outcomes.
- Further research into CSC-targeting agents is warranted to combat tumor relapse.
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