Faculty Opinions recommendation of Tumor microenvironment versus cancer stem cells in cholangiocarcinoma: synergistic effects?

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are defined as a subpopulation of “stem”-like cells within the tumor with unique characteristics that allow them to maintain tumor growth, escape standard anti-tumor therapies and drive subsequent repopulation of the tumor. This is the result of their intrinsic “stem”-like features and the strong driving influence of the CSC niche, a subcompartment within the tumor microenvironment that includes a diverse group of cells focused on maintaining and supporting the CSC. CXCL12 is a chemokine that plays a crucial role in hematopoietic stem cell support and has been extensively reported to be involved in several cancer-related processes. In this review, we will provide the latest evidence about the interactions between CSC niche-derived CXCL12 and its receptors—CXCR4 and CXCR7—present on CSC populations across different tumor entities. The interactions facilitated by CXCL12/CXCR4/CXCR7 axes seem to be strongly linked to CSC “stem”-like features, tumor progression, and metastasis promotion. Altogether, this suggests a role for CXCL12 and its receptors in the maintenance of CSCs and the components of their niche. Moreover, we will also provide an update of the therapeutic options being currently tested to disrupt the CXCL12 axes in order to target, directly or indirectly, the CSC subpopulation.

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Hampering Stromal Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment as a Therapeutic Strategy to Destem Cancer Stem Cells

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13133191 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (13) ◽

pp. 3191

Author(s):

Katherine Po Sin Chung ◽

Rainbow Wing Hei Leung ◽

Terence Kin Wah Lee

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Tumor Microenvironment ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Stromal Cells ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Special Focus ◽

Intrinsic Regulation ◽

Mechanistic Basis ◽

Novel Therapeutic Strategies

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) within the tumor bulk play crucial roles in tumor initiation, recurrence and therapeutic resistance. In addition to intrinsic regulation, a growing body of evidence suggests that the phenotypes of CSCs are also regulated extrinsically by stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we discuss the current knowledge of the interplay between stromal cells and cancer cells with a special focus on how stromal cells drive the stemness of cancer cells and immune evasive mechanisms of CSCs. Knowledge gained from the interaction between CSCs and stromal cells will provide a mechanistic basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cancers.

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Investigating the Radioresistant Properties of Lung Cancer Stem Cells in the Context of the Tumor Microenvironment

Radiation Research ◽

10.1667/rr14285.1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 185 (2) ◽

pp. 169-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Ryan Chan ◽

Pallavi Sethi ◽

Amar Jyoti ◽

Ronald McGarry ◽

Meenakshi Upreti

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Stem Cells ◽

Tumor Microenvironment ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Lung Cancer Stem Cells

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Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells: An Overview of Tumor-Mesenchymal Stem Cell Interaction for therapeutic interventions

Current Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1389450122666210824142247 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

Author(s):

Soheila Montazersaheb ◽

Ezzatollah Fathi ◽

Ayoub Mamandi ◽

Raheleh Farahzadi ◽

Hamid Reza Heidari

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽

Tumor Microenvironment ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

Cell Types ◽

Cell Interaction ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Tumorigenic Potential ◽

Different Types

: Tumors are made up of different types of cancer cells that contribute to tumor heterogeneity. Among these cells, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have a significant role in the onset of cancer and development. Like other stem cells, CSCs are characterized by the capacity for differentiation and self-renewal. A specific population of CSCs is constituted by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that differentiate into mesoderm-specific cells. The pro-or anti-tumorigenic potential of MSCs on the proliferation and development of tumor cells has been reported as contradictory results. Also, tumor progression is specified by the corresponding tumor cells like the tumor microenvironment. The tumor microenvironment consists of a network of reciprocal cell types such as endothelial cells, immune cells, MSCs, and fibroblasts as well as growth factors, chemokines, and cytokines. In this review, recent findings related to the tumor microenvironment and associated cell populations, homing of MSCs to tumor sites, and interaction of MSCs with tumor cells will be discussed.

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Therapeutic targets against gastric cancer stem cells interacting with tumor microenvironment

Journal of Cancer Metastasis and Treatment ◽

10.20517/2394-4722.2017.81 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 9 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tomoyuki Uchihara ◽

Takatsugu Ishimoto ◽

Atsuko Yonemura ◽

Hideo Baba

Keyword(s):

Gastric Cancer ◽

Stem Cells ◽

Tumor Microenvironment ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Therapeutic Targets ◽

Gastric Cancer Stem Cells

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Diversity of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Head and Neck Cancer: Cancer Stem Cells, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition, and Tumor Microenvironment

Molecular Determinants of Head and Neck Cancer - Current Cancer Research ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-78762-6_18 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 491-524

Author(s):

Khalid Alamoud ◽

Maria A. Kukuruzinska

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Tumor Microenvironment ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Mesenchymal Transition

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Blood and Cancer: Cancer Stem Cells as Origin of Hematopoietic Cells in Solid Tumor Microenvironments

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells9051293 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 1293 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ghmkin Hassan ◽

Masaharu Seno

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Tumor Microenvironment ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Solid Tumor ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Tumor Microenvironments

The concepts of hematopoiesis and the generation of blood and immune cells from hematopoietic stem cells are some steady concepts in the field of hematology. However, the knowledge of hematopoietic cells arising from solid tumor cancer stem cells is novel. In the solid tumor microenvironment, hematopoietic cells play pivotal roles in tumor growth and progression. Recent studies have reported that solid tumor cancer cells or cancer stem cells could differentiate into hematopoietic cells. Here, we discuss efforts and research that focused on the presence of hematopoietic cells in tumor microenvironments. We also discuss hematopoiesis from solid tumor cancer stem cells and clarify the notion of differentiation of solid tumor cancer stem cells into non-cancer hematopoietic stem cells.

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