Title:Inhibitors of Cancer Stem Cells
Volume: 16
Issue: 10
Author(s): María E. García-Rubiño, César Lozano-López and Joaquín M. Campos
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Cancer stem cells, drug repurposing, γ-Secretase inhibitor, Hedgehog, Notch, Wnt.
Abstract: The cancer stem cell (CSC) theory is current strategy of cancer treatment. Cancers
follow pathways of cancer stem cell such as Notch, Wnt and Hedgehog can be addressed with
natural products or synthetic drugs to diminish the chance of new tumours. The cancer growth
can also be suppressed by aiming the tumourigenic stem cells alone, instead of targeting at
reducing complete tumour dimension. The recurrence of tumours after years of disease-free
survival has prompted interest in the concept that cancers may have a stem cell basis. Current
assumption holds that < 5% of the tumour mass may be chemo-resistant and radio-resistant,
harbouring stem-like properties that impel tumour survival, development, and metastasis. There
is intense an investigation to interpret CSCs based on self-renewal and multi-lineage
differentiation. Nevertheless, no successful targeted therapies have reached the clinic. The
ionophore antibiotic salinomycin that selectively kills breast CSCs seems to be a promising anticancer
drug. Clinical trials conducted by the NIH (National Institute of Health) on several
synthetic drugs demonstrate the current importance of the issue and predict a bright future for
such molecular weapons against cancer.
