Recent Advances in Cancer Stem Cell Targeted Therapy

The cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells with unique properties of self-renewal and differentiation potential. Recent evidence suggests that these cells might be responsible for tumor relapse and treatment resistance. Conventional cancer treatment modalities like chemotherapy and radiotherapy usually fail in eradicating CSCs in a tumor mass. Preclinical studies aiming at targeting CSCs have yielded great promise to increase the cancer cure rate. Likewise, targeting of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs to the CSCs and new small molecule inhibitors of stem-cell signaling pathways in humans carry the potential of improving the cancer management. Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines seem to be safe and efficient tools in targeting CSCs. The combination of DC vaccines with immune-checkpoint inhibitors is also promising. The viral vectors, particularly the oncolytic viruses, targeting CSCs have emerged as potential curative agents in cancer treatment. Here, we review the recent advances in targeting CSCs via stem cell markers, signaling pathways, immune system, cancer vaccines, and viral treatments.