Therapies targeting cancer stem cells: Current trends and future challenges

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cancer Biology
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• Traditional cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy face limitations including toxicity, drug resistance, and cancer recurrence.
• Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of tumor cells responsible for cancer initiation, metastasis, and relapse due to their self-renewal and resistance properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review novel therapeutic strategies targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) to overcome treatment failure and prevent cancer relapse.
• To discuss the potential of CSC-targeting agents, alone or in combination with conventional therapies, for improved cancer management.

Main Methods:

• Review of current research on CSCs, including their surface markers, molecular pathways, and microenvironmental interactions.
• Discussion of therapeutic approaches targeting CSC self-renewal, differentiation, drug efflux, and apoptosis resistance.
• Examination of strategies involving miRNA manipulation and induction of CSC differentiation or apoptosis.

Main Results:

• Identification of CSC surface markers and molecular features facilitates the design of targeted therapies.
• Various agents targeting CSCs are under preclinical and clinical evaluation, showing potential for combined use with traditional treatments.
• Targeting CSCs holds promise for hampering tumor regeneration and preventing cancer relapse.

Conclusions:

• Developing drugs that specifically target and eliminate cancer stem cells is crucial for achieving long-lasting clinical responses and preventing tumor relapse.
• Combined therapeutic approaches using conventional anticancer drugs with CSC-targeting agents represent a promising strategy for the eradication of various cancers.