Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Discovery of Driver Genes in Colorectal HT29-derived Cancer Stem-Like Tumorspheres
06:52

Discovery of Driver Genes in Colorectal HT29-derived Cancer Stem-Like Tumorspheres

Published on: July 22, 2020

6.5K

Tumor cell stemness in gastrointestinal cancer: regulation and targeted therapy

Kangqi Yang1, Tuo Yi2

  • 1School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
|March 8, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive tumor growth and resistance. Understanding CSC regulation in gastrointestinal cancers is crucial for developing new therapies targeting these key cells.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are crucial for tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and recurrence.
  • CSCs contribute significantly to therapeutic resistance in various cancers.
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers heavily involve CSCs, necessitating a deeper understanding of their regulatory mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on cancer stem cell (CSC) regulation in GI cancers.
  • To explore CSC biomarkers, signaling pathways, and non-coding RNAs involved in stemness.
  • To analyze the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in promoting tumor growth and CSCs.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent advancements in CSC research.
  • Analysis of signaling pathways and non-coding RNAs regulating CSCs.
  • Examination of the tumor microenvironment's components and their effects on CSCs.

Main Results:

  • Identified key CSC biomarkers, signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog), and non-coding RNAs.
  • Detailed the multifaceted role of the tumor microenvironment (TME), including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), immunosuppression, angiogenesis, and hypoxia.
  • Summarized emerging therapeutic strategies targeting CSC stemness.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting CSCs and their regulatory networks within the TME is a promising therapeutic avenue for GI cancers.
  • A comprehensive understanding of CSC biology and the TME is essential for overcoming therapeutic resistance.
  • Novel therapeutic interventions are being developed to specifically target CSC stemness.
Keywords:
cancer stem cellcancer-associated fibroblastepithelial-to-mesenchymal transitiongastrointestinal tumortumor heterogeneitytumor microenvironment

More Related Videos

Combined Conditional Knockdown and Adapted Sphere Formation Assay to Study a Stemness-Associated Gene of Patient-derived Gastric Cancer Stem Cells09:24

Combined Conditional Knockdown and Adapted Sphere Formation Assay to Study a Stemness-Associated Gene of Patient-derived Gastric Cancer Stem Cells

Published on: May 9, 2020

4.4K
Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies07:29

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies

Published on: June 20, 2015

19.6K

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
4.9K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.6K
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:12

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
2.1K
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
2.0K
Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration01:21

Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration

Stem cell therapy is a method used in regenerative medicine to repair and restore function to damaged tissues and organs. Stem cells have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into various tissue types, making them ideal candidates for tissue regeneration. For example, hematopoietic stem cell transplants are commonly used in blood cancer treatment to replenish damaged bone marrow and restore healthy blood cells.
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell...
4.0K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
4.9K