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Topic: Cancer Stem Cells: Impact on Treatment

Introduction to the Special Issue “Cancer Stem Cells: Impact on
Treatment”

Ira-Ida Skvortsova
Laboratory for Experimental and Translational Research on Radiation Oncology (EXTRO-Lab), Department of Therapeutic Radiology and
Oncology, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Correspondence to: Dr. Ira-Ida Skvortsova, Laboratory for Experimental and Translational Research on Radiation Oncology (EXTRO-Lab),
Department of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. E-mail: Ira.Skvortsova@i-med.ac.at

Despite the fact that currently existing therapeutic of curcumin can accelerate proliferation of the leukemic
approaches are highly effective and can markedly improve cells and application of 5-fluorouracil becomes more
clinical outcome in cancer patients with even advanced effective compared to the treatment with 5-fluorouracil
diseases, the problems of treatment resistance, therapy without curcumin. These findings help to assume that
recurrences and unfavorable disease progression are administration of the compounds affecting quiescence
still not solved. It is generally believed that the small of carcinoma cells can improve therapy results in cancer
population of the intratumoral carcinoma stem cells (CSCs) patients with malignant tumors containing a high number
is responsible for poor clinical outcome, because CSCs of quiescent CSCs.
are considered as a reason for the tumor heterogeneity,
diminished sensitivity to chemo- and radiotherapy and Review article by Kim et al. highlights therapeutic
[11]
enhanced abilities for metastatic spread. [1-5] Investigation opportunities to target CSCs and to reach better treatment
of the biological properties of CSCs is a hot topic in cancer results in cancer patients. Recent years have seen an

research. In order to know more about CSC behavior, it is increased number of research reports on the CSC-related
necessary to possess the CSC-specific molecular patterns intracellular and intratumoral molecular pathways that can
distinguishing CSCs from non-CSCs. Using currently
existing surrogate CSC biomarkers [CD133 (prominin-1), be effectively blocked in order to reach better survival
CD44, CD24, Bmi-1, Notch family members, Hedgehog, rate in cancer patients. This review article provides an
aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), nestin, etc.], analysis of different strategies that can be introduced into
subpopulations carcinoma cells with stem cell properties the clinical practice in order to improve therapy outcome
can be isolated for further investigations. Recent in patients with unfavourable prognosis.
[2]
studies have demonstrated that a variety of intracellular
pathways are affected in CSCs: CSC metabolism is The Guest Editor and contributors to this special issue of
characterized by activation of glycolytic pathways and the journal Journal of Cancer Metastasis and Treatment
[6]
intracellular redox potential is dysregulated; [1,7,8] molecular hope that basic researchers and clinicians will read these
mechanisms governing cell cycle, cell proliferation and articles with great interest.
cell death development are also disrupted. Thus, there is
a hypothesis that one of the reasons of CSC insensitivity Acknowledgments
to chemotherapeutics and ionizing radiation is the slower I am heartily thankful and owe my deepest gratitude to
CSC proliferation and CSC quiescence. It is known that Dandan Yu and Lisa Huang for their boundless readiness
[1]
chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy eradicate fast to help and assist during processing of the submitted
dividing and proliferating carcinoma cells more effectively articles and in the preparation of this issue.
than the slower dividing cells. Therefore, it is logical to
[1]
suggest that quiescent CSCs should be changed in their Financial support and sponsorship
intracellular signalings underlying cell cycle regulation Nil.
and cell division. Indeed, Gardane et al. and Vaidya
[10]
[9]
in their article have clearly demonstrated that low doses This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
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How to cite this article: Skvortsova II. Introduction to the Special
Issue “Cancer Stem Cells: Impact on Treatment”. J Cancer Metasta
DOI: Treat 2016;2:231-2.
10.20517/2394-4722.2016.35
Received: 17-06-2016; Accepted: 19-06-2016.

©2016 Journal of Cancer Metastasis and Treatment ¦ Published by OAE Publishing Inc. 231