Therapeutic Approaches to Target Cancer Stem Cells
The clinical relevance of cancer stem cells (CSC) remains a major challenge for current cancer therapies, but preliminary findings indicate that specific targeting may be possible. Recent studies have shown that these tumor subpopulations promote tumor angiogenesis through the increased production o...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2011-08-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/3/3/3331/ |
| _version_ | 1797726565258231808 |
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| author | Kalet Leon Arlhee Diaz |
| author_facet | Kalet Leon Arlhee Diaz |
| author_sort | Kalet Leon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The clinical relevance of cancer stem cells (CSC) remains a major challenge for current cancer therapies, but preliminary findings indicate that specific targeting may be possible. Recent studies have shown that these tumor subpopulations promote tumor angiogenesis through the increased production of VEGF, whereas the VEGF neutralizing antibody bevacizumab specifically inhibits CSC growth. Moreover, nimotuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with a potent antiangiogenic activity, has been shown by our group to reduce the frequency of CSC-like subpopulations in mouse models of brain tumors when combined with ionizing radiation. These studies and subsequent reports from other groups support the relevance of approaches based on molecular-targeted therapies to selectively attack CSC. This review discusses the relevance of targeting both the EGFR and angiogenic pathways as valid approaches to this aim. We discuss the relevance of identifying better molecular markers to develop drug screening strategies that selectively target CSC. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:47:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3e7ed7ef68eb4d02ab9a65e95bf58da9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:47:27Z |
| publishDate | 2011-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-3e7ed7ef68eb4d02ab9a65e95bf58da92023-09-02T07:23:11ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942011-08-01333331335210.3390/cancers3033331Therapeutic Approaches to Target Cancer Stem CellsKalet LeonArlhee DiazThe clinical relevance of cancer stem cells (CSC) remains a major challenge for current cancer therapies, but preliminary findings indicate that specific targeting may be possible. Recent studies have shown that these tumor subpopulations promote tumor angiogenesis through the increased production of VEGF, whereas the VEGF neutralizing antibody bevacizumab specifically inhibits CSC growth. Moreover, nimotuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with a potent antiangiogenic activity, has been shown by our group to reduce the frequency of CSC-like subpopulations in mouse models of brain tumors when combined with ionizing radiation. These studies and subsequent reports from other groups support the relevance of approaches based on molecular-targeted therapies to selectively attack CSC. This review discusses the relevance of targeting both the EGFR and angiogenic pathways as valid approaches to this aim. We discuss the relevance of identifying better molecular markers to develop drug screening strategies that selectively target CSC.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/3/3/3331/CSCCD133angiogenesisEGFR |
| spellingShingle | Kalet Leon Arlhee Diaz Therapeutic Approaches to Target Cancer Stem Cells Cancers CSC CD133 angiogenesis EGFR |
| title | Therapeutic Approaches to Target Cancer Stem Cells |
| title_full | Therapeutic Approaches to Target Cancer Stem Cells |
| title_fullStr | Therapeutic Approaches to Target Cancer Stem Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Therapeutic Approaches to Target Cancer Stem Cells |
| title_short | Therapeutic Approaches to Target Cancer Stem Cells |
| title_sort | therapeutic approaches to target cancer stem cells |
| topic | CSC CD133 angiogenesis EGFR |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/3/3/3331/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kaletleon therapeuticapproachestotargetcancerstemcells AT arlheediaz therapeuticapproachestotargetcancerstemcells |