Cell division symmetry control and cancer stem cells

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Cancer Biology

Background:

• Stem cells, including cancer stem cells (CSCs), exhibit symmetric and asymmetric cell division (ACD).
• ACD produces daughter cells with distinct fates, contributing to cellular heterogeneity.
• Symmetric division yields identical daughter cells, maintaining stemness or differentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the fundamental principles of ACD.
• To explore the role of ACD in cancer stem cell self-renewal and diversity.
• To examine how ACD impacts key CSC characteristics like drug resistance and plasticity.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on asymmetric cell division.
• Detailed examination of the *Drosophila* neuroblast system as a model for ACD.
• Analysis of CSC features in relation to cell division symmetry control.

Main Results:

• ACD is critical for generating the cell diversity observed in cancers.
• Cell division symmetry in CSCs influences niche competition, dormancy, and drug resistance.
• ACD and its regulation are implicated in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and CSC plasticity.

Conclusions:

• Understanding ACD in CSCs is vital for addressing therapeutic resistance and metastasis.
• Targeting cell division modes in CSCs may offer novel anti-cancer strategies.
• ACD mechanisms are fundamental to CSC behavior and cancer progression.