Targeting Strategies for Breast Cancer Stem Cells:Current Status / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ABSTRACT

The breast cancer stem cell theory provides a theoretical basis for explaining phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of breast cancer. These breast cancer stem cells(CSCs)promote tumor growth and are closely related to breast cancer intrinsic drug resistance. Therefore,targeted therapy of breast CSCs has become a hot area in basic and clinical research. There is growing evidence that nanoparticles can kill cancer by targeting breast CSCs ,such as targeted tumor stem cell-specific expressed surface markers(AL-DH1,CD44,and CD90),tumor stem cell stemness-related NOTCH,Hedgehog and TGF-βsignaling pathways. In this review,we summarized the characteristics and research status of breast CSCs ,and the application of nanotechnology in the treatment of breast cancer.In addition,we also summarized the research status of epigenetic drugs aimed to restrain the reprogramming of breast cancer cells.