Abstract
It is becoming increasingly evident that cancer constitutes a group of diseases involving altered stem-cell maturation/differentiation and the disturbance of regenerative processes. The observed malignant transformation is merely a symptom of normal differentiation processes gone astray rather than the primary event. This review focuses on the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in three common but also relatively under-investigated cancers: head and neck, ovarian, and testicular cancer. For didactic purpose, the physiology of stem cells is first introduced using hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells as examples. This is followed by a discussion of the (possible) role of CSCs in head and neck, ovarian, and testicular cancer. Aside from basic information about the pathophysiology of these cancers, current research results focused on the discovery of molecular markers specific to these cancers are also discussed. The last part of the review is largely dedicated to signaling pathways active within various normal and CSC types (e.g. Nanog, Nestin, Notch1, Notch2, Oct3 and 4, Wnt). Different elements of these pathways are also discussed in the context of therapeutic opportunities for the development of targeted therapies aimed at CSCs. Finally, alternative targeted anticancer therapies arising from recently identified molecules with cancer-(semi-)selective capabilities (e.g. apoptin, Brevinin-2R) are considered.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Abbreviations
- BCC:
-
basal cell cancer
- BM:
-
bone marrow
- BMP:
-
bone morphogenetic protein
- CHK2:
-
checkpoint kinase2
- CSC:
-
cancer stem cell
- CXCL12:
-
chemokine (C-X-C-motif) ligand 12
- ES:
-
embryonic stem
- Flk-1:
-
fetal liver kinase-1
- GCT:
-
germ cell tumor
- GPI:
-
guanyl phosphatidylinositol
- HH/PTCH:
-
hedgehog/patched pathway
- HSC:
-
hematopoietic stem cells
- IGCNU:
-
intratubular germ cell neoplasia unclassified
- KDR:
-
kinase insert domain-containing receptor
- LRP5/6:
-
low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5/6
- MIS:
-
Müllerian inhibiting substance
- MSC:
-
mesenchymal stem cell
- OGCT:
-
ovarian GCT
- OSCC:
-
oral squamous cell carcinoma
- PGC:
-
primordial germ cell
- ROS:
-
reactive oxygen species
- Sca-1:
-
stem cell antigen-1
- SCF-1:
-
stem cell factor-1
- SHH:
-
sonic hedgehog
- SMO:
-
smoothened
- SP:
-
side population
- STAT3:
-
signal transducer and activator of transcription 3
- TGCT:
-
testicular GCTs
- VEGFR2:
-
vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2
- VCAM:
-
vascular cell adhesion molecule
- FCS:
-
fetal calf serum
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Sabine Hombach-Klonisch, Ted Paranjothy: Shared first-authorship
About this article
Cite this article
Hombach-Klonisch, S., Paranjothy, T., Wiechec, E. et al. Cancer stem cells as targets for cancer therapy: selected cancers as examples. Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp. 56, 165–180 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00005-008-0023-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00005-008-0023-4