TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of cancer stem cells in breast cancer initiation and progression
T2 - Potential cancer stem cell-directed therapies
AU - Economopoulou, Panagiota
AU - Kaklamani, Virginia G.
AU - Siziopikou, Kalliopi
PY - 2012/11
Y1 - 2012/11
N2 - Recent studies have identified a small population of highly tumorigenic cells with stem cell properties in human breast and other solid tumors that are considered to be the source of tumor initiation and maintenance; these cells are referred to as cancer stem cells (CSCs). Preclinical data suggest that current breast cancer treatment strategies lead to CSCenrichment, contributing to chemotherapy and radiotherapy resistance, although a strong correlation with clinical parameters and prognosis is yet to be established. Importantly, overcoming treatment failure by effective targeting of CSCs may be an appealing approach, potentially leading to improved clinical outcomes for patients with breast cancer. Several preclinical studies provide promising results that support this hypothesis. The purpose of this review is to summarize the role of CSCs in breast cancer recurrence and resistance and to discuss current attempts of CSC targeting.
AB - Recent studies have identified a small population of highly tumorigenic cells with stem cell properties in human breast and other solid tumors that are considered to be the source of tumor initiation and maintenance; these cells are referred to as cancer stem cells (CSCs). Preclinical data suggest that current breast cancer treatment strategies lead to CSCenrichment, contributing to chemotherapy and radiotherapy resistance, although a strong correlation with clinical parameters and prognosis is yet to be established. Importantly, overcoming treatment failure by effective targeting of CSCs may be an appealing approach, potentially leading to improved clinical outcomes for patients with breast cancer. Several preclinical studies provide promising results that support this hypothesis. The purpose of this review is to summarize the role of CSCs in breast cancer recurrence and resistance and to discuss current attempts of CSC targeting.
KW - CD44CD24 phenotype
KW - CSC-targeted therapies
KW - Cancer stem cell hypothesis
KW - Chemoresistance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84869379939&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84869379939&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1634/theoncologist.2012-0163
DO - 10.1634/theoncologist.2012-0163
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22941971
AN - SCOPUS:84869379939
SN - 1083-7159
VL - 17
SP - 1394
EP - 1401
JO - Oncologist
JF - Oncologist
IS - 11
ER -
