[Immune regulation of cancer stem cells]

Emerging evidences have revealed the role of tumor-associated immune cells and their derivatives in the regulation of tumor progression. In particular, recent studies have clarified that various tumor-associated immune regulatory systems, which include tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines, for regulating the maintenance and activation of cancer stem cells. The networks formed by immune cells and cancer stem cells play a critical role in further amplifying infiltration of pro-tumor immune cells and inflammatory cascades, and promoting cancer stemness. Further clarification about the immune-mediated regulation of cancer stem cell activities should provide therapeutic implication against cancer stem cells and treatment-resistant variants of cancer cells.