Cancer stem cells and markers: New model of tumorigenesis with therapeutic implications

Issue title: Translational Pathology of Early Cancer

Guest editors: Sudhir Srivastavax and William E. Grizzley

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Natarajan, Thanemozhi G.^{a; b; *} | Ganesan, Natarajan^a | FitzGerald, Kevin T.^a

Affiliations: [a] Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC-20057, USA | [b] Department of Biochemistry, Protein Information Resources, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC-20057, USA (Current affiliation) | [x] Cancer Biomarkers Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA | [y] Department of Pathology, Division of Anatomic Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Thanemozhi G. Natarajan, PhD., Department of Biochemistry, Protein Information Resources, 3300 Whitehaven street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC-20057, USA. Tel.: +1 202 687 2140; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: In an effort to improve our understanding and treatment of cancer, a new model of tumorigenesis is being developed – the cancer stem cell model. Building upon traditional concepts of cancer and stem cells, this model is intended to shed new light on the continuing struggle with treatment challenges such as tumor drug-resistance and recurrence. This review describes the cancer stem cell model with an emphasis on delineating markers that represent a "stemness" phenotype within certain tumor cells. The objective of this delineation is to develop targeted therapies for the selective elimination of cancer stem cells with minimal toxicity to normal stem cells and tissues. However, this specific targeting of cancer stem cells has proved to be a significant challenge due to the similarity of markers expressed by both normal and cancer stem cells. Still, research in the area of cancer biomarkers is steadily progressing.

Keywords: Cancer, stem cells, markers, stemness, asymmetric division, stem cell niche, immortality, canonical pathways, signaling pathways, surface antigens, transcription factors, detoxifying proteins, communication, clinical implications

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-2011-0173

Journal: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 9, no. 1-6, pp. 65-99, 2011