Cancer stem cells, therapeutic implications

ABSTRACT

It has been shown throughout the years in numerous studies in cell biology that cancer stem cells have therapeutic implications that can be potentially used to revolutionize treatment of cancer. Using the information available to us from cancer stem cell research, a number of new therapies can be developed to provide a longer and stem cells in general, explains the cancer stem cell concept and how stem cells behave in tumors, how this contributes to the thriving of tumor cells, and their heterogeneity. The review also provides examples of the mechanisms of resistance to conventional therapies widely used today, which are present in cells of various cancers such as breast cancer. It also goes through how some tumors resistant to therapy and how this contributes to tumor relapse. The various breakthroughs in potential targeted therapies are also explained, such as signaling pathways and tumor markers. Here we address the current issues involving selectivity of therapy and lack of availability of universal tumor markers, based on the pre-established understanding of cancer cell behavior when targeted for therapy