Mechanisms of Chemoresistance in Tumor-Derived Cancer Stem Cells



Mirzaei HR^{1, 2, 3} ; Gharagozloo M² ; Rezaei A² ; Soleimani M^{1, 3} ; Kalantari H⁴ ; Mirzaei H⁵ ; Eghbali M⁶ ; Chamanara M⁶ ; Tajadini M⁷
Source: Journal of Isfahan Medical School Published:2012

Abstract

The existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) has been already established in several hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cancers. Chemoresistance has also been demonstrated as a major cause of cancer treatment failure. Although chemotherapy kills most cells in a tumor, it is believed to leave CSCs behind which might be an important mechanism of resistance and thereby cancer treatment failure. The quiescent nature and existence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters in CSCs have been suggested to protect them from chemotherapeutic agents. Gaining a better insight into the mechanisms of CSCs chemoresistance might therefore lead to new therapeutic targets and development of better anticancer strategies.