The cross talk between gastric cancer stem cells and the immune microenvironment: a tumor-promoting factor
Abstract Cross talk between cancer cells and the immune system is determinant for cancer progression. Emerging evidence demonstrates that GC characteristics such as metastasis, treatment resistance, and disease recurrence are associated with a tumor subpopulation called gastric cancer stem cells (GC...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Stem Cell Research & Therapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02562-9 |
| _version_ | 1819124299163762688 |
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| author | Jared Becerril-Rico Eduardo Alvarado-Ortiz Mariel E. Toledo-Guzmán Rosana Pelayo Elizabeth Ortiz-Sánchez |
| author_facet | Jared Becerril-Rico Eduardo Alvarado-Ortiz Mariel E. Toledo-Guzmán Rosana Pelayo Elizabeth Ortiz-Sánchez |
| author_sort | Jared Becerril-Rico |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cross talk between cancer cells and the immune system is determinant for cancer progression. Emerging evidence demonstrates that GC characteristics such as metastasis, treatment resistance, and disease recurrence are associated with a tumor subpopulation called gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs). However, the specific interaction between GCSCs and the immune microenvironment is still under investigation. Although immune evasion has been well described for cancer stem cells (CSCs), recent studies show that GCSCs can also regulate the immune system and even benefit from it. This review will provide an overview of bidirectional interactions between CSCs and immune cells in GC, compiling relevant data about how CSCs can induce leukocyte reprogramming, resulting in pro-tumoral immune cells that orchestrate promotion of metastasis, chemoresistance, tumorigenicity, and even increase in number of cancer cells with stem properties. Some immune cells studied are tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), neutrophils, Th17 and T regulatory (Treg) cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as well as the signaling pathways involved in these pro-tumoral activities. Conversely, although there are cytotoxic leukocytes that can potentially eliminate GCSCs, we describe mechanisms for immune evasion in GCSCs and their clinical implications. Furthermore, we describe current available immunotherapy targeting GCSC-related markers as possible treatment for GC, discussing how the CSC-modified immune microenvironment can mitigate or inactivate these immunotherapies, limiting their effectiveness. Finally, we summarize key concepts and relevant evidence to understand the cross talk between GCSCs and the immune microenvironment as an important process for effective design of therapies against GCSCs that improve the outcome of patients with GC. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:22:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45adf53ee98c4d489ef62bdd114ecc1e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1757-6512 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:22:02Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Stem Cell Research & Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-45adf53ee98c4d489ef62bdd114ecc1e2022-12-21T18:34:14ZengBMCStem Cell Research & Therapy1757-65122021-09-0112111410.1186/s13287-021-02562-9The cross talk between gastric cancer stem cells and the immune microenvironment: a tumor-promoting factorJared Becerril-Rico0Eduardo Alvarado-Ortiz1Mariel E. Toledo-Guzmán2Rosana Pelayo3Elizabeth Ortiz-Sánchez4Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Secretaría de SaludPrograma de Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoSubdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Secretaría de SaludCentro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Delegación PueblaSubdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Secretaría de SaludAbstract Cross talk between cancer cells and the immune system is determinant for cancer progression. Emerging evidence demonstrates that GC characteristics such as metastasis, treatment resistance, and disease recurrence are associated with a tumor subpopulation called gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs). However, the specific interaction between GCSCs and the immune microenvironment is still under investigation. Although immune evasion has been well described for cancer stem cells (CSCs), recent studies show that GCSCs can also regulate the immune system and even benefit from it. This review will provide an overview of bidirectional interactions between CSCs and immune cells in GC, compiling relevant data about how CSCs can induce leukocyte reprogramming, resulting in pro-tumoral immune cells that orchestrate promotion of metastasis, chemoresistance, tumorigenicity, and even increase in number of cancer cells with stem properties. Some immune cells studied are tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), neutrophils, Th17 and T regulatory (Treg) cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as well as the signaling pathways involved in these pro-tumoral activities. Conversely, although there are cytotoxic leukocytes that can potentially eliminate GCSCs, we describe mechanisms for immune evasion in GCSCs and their clinical implications. Furthermore, we describe current available immunotherapy targeting GCSC-related markers as possible treatment for GC, discussing how the CSC-modified immune microenvironment can mitigate or inactivate these immunotherapies, limiting their effectiveness. Finally, we summarize key concepts and relevant evidence to understand the cross talk between GCSCs and the immune microenvironment as an important process for effective design of therapies against GCSCs that improve the outcome of patients with GC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02562-9Cancer stem cellsGastric cancerImmunoregulationImmunotherapyCancer microenvironmentCell reprogramming |
| spellingShingle | Jared Becerril-Rico Eduardo Alvarado-Ortiz Mariel E. Toledo-Guzmán Rosana Pelayo Elizabeth Ortiz-Sánchez The cross talk between gastric cancer stem cells and the immune microenvironment: a tumor-promoting factor Stem Cell Research & Therapy Cancer stem cells Gastric cancer Immunoregulation Immunotherapy Cancer microenvironment Cell reprogramming |
| title | The cross talk between gastric cancer stem cells and the immune microenvironment: a tumor-promoting factor |
| title_full | The cross talk between gastric cancer stem cells and the immune microenvironment: a tumor-promoting factor |
| title_fullStr | The cross talk between gastric cancer stem cells and the immune microenvironment: a tumor-promoting factor |
| title_full_unstemmed | The cross talk between gastric cancer stem cells and the immune microenvironment: a tumor-promoting factor |
| title_short | The cross talk between gastric cancer stem cells and the immune microenvironment: a tumor-promoting factor |
| title_sort | cross talk between gastric cancer stem cells and the immune microenvironment a tumor promoting factor |
| topic | Cancer stem cells Gastric cancer Immunoregulation Immunotherapy Cancer microenvironment Cell reprogramming |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02562-9 |
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