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Cancer Stem Cells in Solid Tumors
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Cancer Stem Cells in Solid Tumors

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 7389

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jelena Milasin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Genetics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Dr. Subotica 8, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: medical genetics; cancer molecular biology; cancer genetics; stem cell research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a small subpopulation of cells within tumors that share similarities with normal stem cells of the human body, mainly their capabilities of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation. These properties make CSCs a crucial instrument of tumor progression and a source of tumor regrowth after treatment. They have been identified in a variety of malignancies and substantial knowledge on CSCs biology has accumulated over the past years. Yet, there is still a strong need for further characterization of their molecular and cellular phenotypes, which in turn should result in better understanding of the pathogenesis of malignancies, mechanisms of disease recurrences and multidrug and/or radio resistance. Additionally, above all, this knowledge will have a huge impact on novel, innovative, targeted drug delivery against cancer stem cells.

This Special Issue welcomes the submission of manuscripts focusing on the genetic and epigenetic control of CSC properties, changes in CSCs metabolism, cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and deregulated signaling pathways associated with therapy resistance. In addition, particular emphasis must also be put on the tumor microenvironment’s (TME) role in maintaining cancer stem cell niches and promoting cancer stem cell plasticity and differentiation properties. CSCs’ exosomes and their cargos that facilitate metastases are also puzzling and represent a field to be explored. 

Hence, through this Special Issue, we hope to highlight new areas of research in cancer stem cells biology, encompassing both fundamental and applicative aspects.

Prof. Dr. Jelena Milasin
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • CSC characterization
  • genetic and epigenetic regulators of CSCs
  • tumor microenvironment
  • energy/oxidative metabolism
  • exosomes
  • microRNAs
  • treatment resistance
  • targeting CSCs
  • differentiation therapy

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2374 KiB  
Article
From Inflammation to Oncogenesis: Tracing Serum DCLK1 and miRNA Signatures in Chronic Liver Diseases
by Landon L. Moore, Dongfeng Qu, Sripathi Sureban, Stephanie Mitchell, Kamille Pitts, Nasya Cooper, Javid Fazili, Richard Harty, Abdul Oseini, Kai Ding, Michael Bronze and Courtney W. Houchen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(12), 6481; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25126481 - 12 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1422
Abstract
Chronic liver diseases, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC are often a consequence of persistent inflammation. However, the transition mechanisms from a normal liver to fibrosis, then cirrhosis, and further to HCC are not well understood. This study focused on the role of the tumor [...] Read more.
Chronic liver diseases, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC are often a consequence of persistent inflammation. However, the transition mechanisms from a normal liver to fibrosis, then cirrhosis, and further to HCC are not well understood. This study focused on the role of the tumor stem cell protein doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) in the modulation of molecular factors in fibrosis, cirrhosis, or HCC. Serum samples from patients with hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC were analyzed via ELISA or NextGen sequencing and were compared with control samples. Differentially expressed (DE) microRNAs (miRNA) identified from these patient sera were correlated with DCLK1 expression. We observed elevated serum DCLK1 levels in fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC patients; however, TGF-β levels were only elevated in fibrosis and cirrhosis. While DE miRNAs were identified for all three disease states, miR-12136 was elevated in fibrosis but was significantly increased further in cirrhosis. Additionally, miR-1246 and miR-184 were upregulated when DCLK1 was high, while miR-206 was downregulated. This work distinguishes DCLK1 and miRNAs’ potential role in different axes promoting inflammation to tumor progression and may serve to identify biomarkers for tracking the progression from pre-neoplastic states to HCC in chronic liver disease patients as well as provide targets for treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Stem Cells in Solid Tumors)
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15 pages, 5692 KiB  
Article
Osteogenic and Adipogenic Differentiation Potential of Oral Cancer Stem Cells May Offer New Treatment Modalities
by Milica Jaksic Karisik, Milos Lazarevic, Dijana Mitic, Nadja Nikolic, Maja Milosevic Markovic, Drago Jelovac and Jelena Milasin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(5), 4704; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054704 - 28 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2005
Abstract
(1) Treatment failure of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is generally due to the development of therapeutic resistance caused by the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), a small cell subpopulation with marked self-renewal and differentiation capacity. Micro RNAs, notably miRNA-21, appear to [...] Read more.
(1) Treatment failure of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is generally due to the development of therapeutic resistance caused by the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), a small cell subpopulation with marked self-renewal and differentiation capacity. Micro RNAs, notably miRNA-21, appear to play an important role in OSCC carcinogenesis. Our objectives were to explore the multipotency of oral CSCs by estimating their differentiation capacity and assessing the effects of differentiation on stemness, apoptosis, and several miRNAs’ expression. (2) A commercially available OSCC cell line (SCC25) and five primary OSCC cultures generated from tumor tissues obtained from five OSCC patients were used in the experiments. Cells harboring CD44, a CSC marker, were magnetically separated from the heterogeneous tumor cell populations. The CD44+ cells were then subjected to osteogenic and adipogenic induction, and the specific staining was used for differentiation confirmation. The kinetics of the differentiation process was evaluated by qPCR analysis of osteogenic (Bone Morphogenetic Protein—BMP4, Runt-related Transcription Factor 2—RUNX2, Alkaline Phosphatase—ALP) and adipogenic (Fibroblast Activation Protein Alpha—FAP, LIPIN, Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor Gamma—PPARG) markers on days 0, 7, 14, and 21. Embryonic markers (Octamer-binding Transcription Factor 4—OCT4, Sex Determining Region Y Box 2—SOX2, and NANOG) and micro RNAs (miRNA-21, miRNA-133, and miRNA-491) were also correspondingly evaluated by qPCR. An Annexin V assay was used to assess the potential cytotoxic effects of the differentiation process. (3) Following differentiation, the levels of markers for the osteo/adipo lineages showed a gradual increase from day 0 to day 21 in the CD44+ cultures, while stemness markers and cell viability decreased. The oncogenic miRNA-21 also followed the same pattern of gradual decrease along the differentiation process, while tumor suppressor miRNA-133 and miRNA-491 levels increased. (4) Following induction, the CSCs acquired the characteristics of the differentiated cells. This was accompanied by loss of stemness properties, a decrease of the oncogenic and concomitant, and an increase of tumor suppressor micro RNAs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Stem Cells in Solid Tumors)
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Review

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16 pages, 729 KiB  
Review
Cancer Stem Cells in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Origins and Biomarkers
by Francesco Lasorsa, Monica Rutigliano, Martina Milella, Matteo Ferro, Savio Domenico Pandolfo, Felice Crocetto, Riccardo Autorino, Michele Battaglia, Pasquale Ditonno and Giuseppe Lucarelli
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(17), 13179; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713179 - 24 Aug 2023
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 3107
Abstract
The term “cancer stem cell” (CSC) refers to a cancer cell with the following features: clonogenic ability, the expression of stem cell markers, differentiation into cells of different lineages, growth in nonadhesive spheroids, and the in vivo ability to generate serially transplantable tumors [...] Read more.
The term “cancer stem cell” (CSC) refers to a cancer cell with the following features: clonogenic ability, the expression of stem cell markers, differentiation into cells of different lineages, growth in nonadhesive spheroids, and the in vivo ability to generate serially transplantable tumors that reflect the heterogeneity of primary cancers (tumorigenicity). According to this model, CSCs may arise from normal stem cells, progenitor cells, and/or differentiated cells because of striking genetic/epigenetic mutations or from the fusion of tissue-specific stem cells with circulating bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs). CSCs use signaling pathways similar to those controlling cell fate during early embryogenesis (Notch, Wnt, Hedgehog, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), fibroblast growth factors, leukemia inhibitory factor, and transforming growth factor-β). Recent studies identified a subpopulation of CD133+/CD24+ cells from ccRCC specimens that displayed self-renewal ability and clonogenic multipotency. The development of agents targeting CSC signaling-specific pathways and not only surface proteins may ultimately become of utmost importance for patients with RCC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancer Stem Cells in Solid Tumors)
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