OncoTargets and Therapy (Apr 2021)
A Concise Review: The Role of Stem Cells in Cancer Progression and Therapy
Abstract
Hasaan Hayat,1,2 Hanaan Hayat,1– 3 Bennett Francis Dwan,1,4 Mithil Gudi,1,4 Jack Owen Bishop,1,4 Ping Wang1,5 1Precision Health Program, Department of Radiology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; 2Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; 3Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; 4College of Natural Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; 5Department of Radiology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USACorrespondence: Ping WangPrecision Health Program, Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, 766 Service Road, Rm. 2020, East Lansing, MI, 48823, USATel +517-353-3817Email [email protected]: The properties of cancer stem cells (CSCs) have recently gained attention as an avenue of intervention for cancer therapy. In this review, we highlight some of the key roles of CSCs in altering the cellular microenvironment in favor of cancer progression. We also report on various studies in this field which focus on transformative properties of CSCs and their influence on surrounding cells or targets through the release of cellular cargo in the form of extracellular vesicles. The findings from these studies encourage the development of novel interventional therapies that can target and prevent cancer through efficient, more effective methods. These methods include targeting immunosuppressive proteins and biomarkers, promoting immunization against tumors, exosome-mediated CSC conversion, and a focus on the quiescent properties of CSCs and their role in cancer progression. The resulting therapeutic benefit and transformative potential of these novel approaches to stem cell-based cancer therapy provide a new direction in cancer treatment, which can focus on nanoscale, molecular properties of the cellular microenvironment and establish a more precision medicine-oriented paradigm of treatment.Keywords: stem cell therapy, cancer, exosomes, biomarkers, molecular imaging
