Kinjal Bhadresha, Rakesh Rawal, Jpan Brahmbhatt, Devashish Mehta
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) also known as tumor
initiating cells, are pluripotent and self-renewing subpopulation of cancer
cells. This subpopulation is heterogeneous in nature which includes quiescent
population and a proliferative population. Since CSCs were first identified in
leukemia, their importance in chemoresistance, radioresistance, metastasis and
recurrence were explored in detail through many studies. Different
transcription factors like OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, KLF4, and c-Myc, as well as many
signaling pathways like Wnt, Notch, NF-κB, Hedgehog and JAK/STAT are important
regulators of CSCs. In addition different cells of tumor microenvironment,
hypoxic condition, extracellular matrix and many miRNAs also regulate CSCs.
This review summarizes model of CSC, properties and characterization CSC, and
factors that regulate CSC.
Cancer, Cancer stem cells, Tumor initiating cells
VOL.14, ISSUE No.1, March 2022