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Recent Advances in Cancer Stem Cell-Targeted Immunotherapy
Narayanasamy Badrinath1,2, So Young Yoo3,4
1Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea. badrisamy@gmail.com.
Cancers
|March 8, 2019
Summary
Targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) is crucial for preventing cancer relapse and metastasis. Immunotherapies offer promising strategies to eliminate these drug-resistant CSCs and achieve complete tumor regression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Stem Cell Research
Background:
- Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive tumor recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance.
- CSCs contribute to tumor heterogeneity and minimal residual disease.
- Targeting CSCs is essential for achieving complete tumor eradication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of cancer stem cells in cancer progression and treatment resistance.
- To explore the potential of various immunotherapeutic strategies for targeting CSCs.
- To discuss recent trends and feasibility of immunological approaches against CSCs.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on cancer stem cells and immunotherapy.
- Analysis of immune markers and characteristics of CSCs.
- Discussion of adaptive T-cells, DC-based vaccines, oncolytic viruses, and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Main Results:
- CSCs possess unique immune markers exploitable for immunotherapy.
- Multiple immunotherapeutic strategies are being developed to target CSCs.
- Combination therapies show potential for enhanced CSC eradication.
Conclusions:
- Immunotherapy presents a viable approach to target cancer stem cells.
- Targeting CSCs via immunological methods is key to overcoming treatment resistance and preventing relapse.
- Further research into these strategies promises improved cancer treatment outcomes.
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