Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells and Cell Death

Cancers

Veronica Catalano²  Miriam Gaggianesi²  Valentina Spina²  Flora Iovino²  Francesco Dieli¹  Giorgio Stassi² 

[1] Departement of Biopathology and Medicine Biotechnologies, University of Palermo, Via Liborio Giuffrè 5, 90127 Palermo (PA), Italy; E-Mail:;Department of Surgical and Oncological Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Liborio Giuffrè 5, 90127 Palermo (PA), Italy; E-Mails:

关键词: cancer stem cells;    apoptosis;    BMP4;    survivin;   

DOI  :  10.3390/cancers3021929

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Nowadays it is reported that, similarly to other solid tumors, colorectal cancer is sustained by a rare subset of cancer stem–like cells (CSCs), which survive conventional anticancer treatments, thanks to efficient mechanisms allowing escape from apoptosis, triggering tumor recurrence. To improve patient outcomes, conventional anticancer therapies have to be replaced with specific approaches targeting CSCs. In this review we provide strong support that BMP4 is an innovative therapeutic approach to prevent colon cancer growth increasing differentiation markers expression and apoptosis. Recent data suggest that in colorectal CSCs, protection from apoptosis is achieved by interleukin-4 (IL-4) autocrine production through upregulation of antiapoptotic mediators, including survivin. Consequently, IL-4 neutralization could deregulate survivin expression and localization inducing chemosensitivity of the colon CSCs pool.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.