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Rich66 · 06-15-2009, 07:58 AM

Breast cancer chemoresistance: Emerging importance of cancer stem cells
Surgical Oncology, 06/15/09

Chuthapisith S et al. - Review presents the evidence for the involvement of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in carcinogenesis, tumour invasion and metastases, and resistance to various forms of therapies, including chemotherapy.
What are CSCs?

Concepts of CSCs arose from the observations of the capacity to and comparability of self-renewal between stem cells and cancer cells
A minority of tumor cells that are able to self renew and differentiate into a new tumor cell are termed CSCs

Role of CSCs in breast cancer chemoresistance:

CSCs have a high level of ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters that protect these cells from drug damage
These cells remain quiescent in G-null phase
They are later induced by different stimuli to differentiate into new mature chemoresistant tumor cells

Strategies to overcome chemoresistant breast cancer by targeting breast cancer stem cells:

Traditional approach of switching to another drug does not work
CSCs may be eliminated by selectively targeted therapies against various self-renewal signalling pathways including the Notch, Shh, BMI-1 and Wnt signalling pathways
Targeting ABC transporter proteins may be another approach
Biological therapy with monoclonal antibodies targeted against specific cellular surface molecules or receptors should be considered
Targeting at the apoptotic pathway could be an attractive and therapeutically beneficial option

06-15-2009, 07:58 AM	#19
Rich66 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South East Wisconsin Posts: 3,431	Breast cancer chemoresistance: Emerging importance of cancer stem cells Surgical Oncology, 06/15/09 Print Email This Article Save in My Library Free Abstract Chuthapisith S et al. - Review presents the evidence for the involvement of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in carcinogenesis, tumour invasion and metastases, and resistance to various forms of therapies, including chemotherapy. What are CSCs? Concepts of CSCs arose from the observations of the capacity to and comparability of self-renewal between stem cells and cancer cells A minority of tumor cells that are able to self renew and differentiate into a new tumor cell are termed CSCs Role of CSCs in breast cancer chemoresistance: CSCs have a high level of ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters that protect these cells from drug damage These cells remain quiescent in G-null phase They are later induced by different stimuli to differentiate into new mature chemoresistant tumor cells Strategies to overcome chemoresistant breast cancer by targeting breast cancer stem cells: Traditional approach of switching to another drug does not work CSCs may be eliminated by selectively targeted therapies against various self-renewal signalling pathways including the Notch, Shh, BMI-1 and Wnt signalling pathways Targeting ABC transporter proteins may be another approach Biological therapy with monoclonal antibodies targeted against specific cellular surface molecules or receptors should be considered Targeting at the apoptotic pathway could be an attractive and therapeutically beneficial option