Abstract
Resistance to tumor therapy is an unsolved problem in cancer treatment. A plethora of studies have attempted to explain this phenomenon and many mechanisms of resistance have been suggested over recent decades. The concept of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which describes tumors as hierarchically organized, has added a new level of complexity to therapy failure. CSCs are the root of cancers and resist chemo- and radiotherapy, explaining cancer recurrence even many years after therapy is ended. This review discusses briefly CSCs in cancers, gives an overview of the role of CSCs in therapy resistance, and discusses the potential means of targeting these therapy-resistant tumor cells.
Keywords:
cancer; cancer stem cell; chemotherapy; resistance; tumor-initiating cells.
© 2014 FEBS.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
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Antigens, Differentiation / analysis
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Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
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Apoptosis / drug effects
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Cell Differentiation / drug effects
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DNA Repair
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DNA, Neoplasm / drug effects
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DNA, Neoplasm / genetics
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Drug Design
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Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / physiology
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Heterografts
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Humans
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Mice
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Molecular Targeted Therapy
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Neoplasm Proteins / physiology
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Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Neoplasms / genetics
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Neoplasms / pathology
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Neoplasms / radiotherapy
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Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
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Neoplastic Stem Cells / physiology*
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Neoplastic Stem Cells / radiation effects
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Radiation Tolerance / physiology
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Receptors, Notch / physiology
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Recurrence
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Wnt Signaling Pathway / physiology
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antigens, Differentiation
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Antineoplastic Agents
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DNA, Neoplasm
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Neoplasm Proteins
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Receptors, Notch