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Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples
07:03

Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples

Published on: October 2, 2020

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Breast cancer stem cells: Biology and therapeutic implications

Ramesh Butti1, Vinoth Prasanna Gunasekaran1, Totakura V S Kumar1

  • 1National Centre for Cell Science, SP Pune University Campus, Pune 411007, India.

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|December 12, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Breast cancer stem cells drive relapse and drug resistance. Targeting these cells and their pathways offers a promising strategy to improve patient survival and enhance treatment effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • Breast cancer remains a significant health challenge despite advances in chemotherapy and radiation.
  • Breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) are implicated in tumor relapse, metastasis, and resistance to conventional therapies.
  • CSCs possess self-renewal and differentiation capabilities, contributing to tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic failure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the origin and multifaceted roles of breast CSCs in cancer progression.
  • To explore the mechanisms by which CSCs contribute to angiogenesis, metastasis, and therapy resistance.
  • To summarize current and emerging therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs for improved breast cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on breast cancer stem cells.
  • Analysis of signaling pathways (Notch, Hippo, Wnt, Hedgehog) involved in CSC self-renewal.
  • Examination of CSC interactions with the tumor microenvironment and their role in angiogenesis and metastasis.

Main Results:

  • CSCs promote tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis through self-renewal and differentiation.
  • CSCs exhibit inherent multidrug resistance via specific genes and efflux transporters.
  • Conventional therapies can inadvertently enrich the CSC population, leading to relapse.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting breast CSCs is crucial for overcoming therapeutic resistance and preventing tumor recurrence.
  • Interventions aimed at CSC self-renewal pathways and tumor-stroma interactions are vital.
  • Reversing CSC-mediated drug resistance can enhance sensitivity to existing breast cancer treatments.
Keywords:
AngiogenesisBreast cancer stem cellsDrug resistanceMetastasisStromal cellsTumor relapse

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