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Cancer Stem Cells: The Architects of the Tumor Ecosystem
Briana C Prager1, Qi Xie2, Shideng Bao3
1Department of Medicine, Division of Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44120, USA; Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Abstract:
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) proactively remodel their microenvironment to maintain a supportive niche. Viewed through the lens of an ecosystem, numerous tumor components have multi-directional interactions involving CSCs, supporting the complexity of tumors to maintain growth in a dynamic host. In this Perspective, we discuss how CSCs are active architects of their microenvironment and drive interactions with other tumor components, such as immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts and differentiated cells, blood vessels, and other extracellular cues to engineer a sustainable niche. We also highlight considerations for modeling this dynamic tumor ecology and discuss potential therapeutic strategies for targeting these multifaceted interactions.
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