Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells Using Naturally Occurring Phytoestrogens
Breast cancer therapies have made significant strides in improving survival for patients over the past decades. However, recurrence and drug resistance continue to challenge long-term recurrence-free and overall survival rates. Mounting evidence supports the cancer stem cell model in which the exist...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/12/6813 |
| _version_ | 1797486376569012224 |
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| author | Mai Nguyen Clodia Osipo |
| author_facet | Mai Nguyen Clodia Osipo |
| author_sort | Mai Nguyen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Breast cancer therapies have made significant strides in improving survival for patients over the past decades. However, recurrence and drug resistance continue to challenge long-term recurrence-free and overall survival rates. Mounting evidence supports the cancer stem cell model in which the existence of a small population of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) within the tumor enables these cells to evade conventional therapies and repopulate the tumor, giving rise to more aggressive, recurrent tumors. Thus, successful breast cancer therapy would need to target these BCSCs, as well the tumor bulk cells. Since the Women’s Health Initiative study reported an increased risk of breast cancer with the use of conventional hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women, many have turned their attention to phytoestrogens as a natural alternative. Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that share structural similarities with human estrogens and can bind to the estrogen receptors to alter the endocrine responses. Recent studies have found that phytoestrogens can also target BCSCs and have the potential to complement conventional therapy eradicating BCSCs. This review summarized the latest findings of different phytoestrogens and their effect on BCSCs, along with their mechanisms of action, including selective estrogen receptor binding and inhibition of molecular pathways used by BCSCs. The latest results of phytoestrogens in clinical trials are also discussed to further evaluate the use of phytoestrogen in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:32:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-93363951ebb647f398b434087e00be91 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:32:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-93363951ebb647f398b434087e00be912023-11-23T17:07:15ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-06-012312681310.3390/ijms23126813Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells Using Naturally Occurring PhytoestrogensMai Nguyen0Clodia Osipo1MD/PhD Program, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USABreast cancer therapies have made significant strides in improving survival for patients over the past decades. However, recurrence and drug resistance continue to challenge long-term recurrence-free and overall survival rates. Mounting evidence supports the cancer stem cell model in which the existence of a small population of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) within the tumor enables these cells to evade conventional therapies and repopulate the tumor, giving rise to more aggressive, recurrent tumors. Thus, successful breast cancer therapy would need to target these BCSCs, as well the tumor bulk cells. Since the Women’s Health Initiative study reported an increased risk of breast cancer with the use of conventional hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women, many have turned their attention to phytoestrogens as a natural alternative. Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that share structural similarities with human estrogens and can bind to the estrogen receptors to alter the endocrine responses. Recent studies have found that phytoestrogens can also target BCSCs and have the potential to complement conventional therapy eradicating BCSCs. This review summarized the latest findings of different phytoestrogens and their effect on BCSCs, along with their mechanisms of action, including selective estrogen receptor binding and inhibition of molecular pathways used by BCSCs. The latest results of phytoestrogens in clinical trials are also discussed to further evaluate the use of phytoestrogen in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/12/6813breast cancercancer stem cellsphytoestrogensgenisteinresveratrol |
| spellingShingle | Mai Nguyen Clodia Osipo Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells Using Naturally Occurring Phytoestrogens International Journal of Molecular Sciences breast cancer cancer stem cells phytoestrogens genistein resveratrol |
| title | Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells Using Naturally Occurring Phytoestrogens |
| title_full | Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells Using Naturally Occurring Phytoestrogens |
| title_fullStr | Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells Using Naturally Occurring Phytoestrogens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells Using Naturally Occurring Phytoestrogens |
| title_short | Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells Using Naturally Occurring Phytoestrogens |
| title_sort | targeting breast cancer stem cells using naturally occurring phytoestrogens |
| topic | breast cancer cancer stem cells phytoestrogens genistein resveratrol |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/12/6813 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mainguyen targetingbreastcancerstemcellsusingnaturallyoccurringphytoestrogens AT clodiaosipo targetingbreastcancerstemcellsusingnaturallyoccurringphytoestrogens |