Author:
Zhao Yutong,Qin Cheng,Zhao Bangbo,Wang Yuanyang,Li Zeru,Li Tianyu,Yang Xiaoying,Wang Weibin
Abstract
AbstractPancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that the capacity for self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation of pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) contribute to major challenges with current PC therapies, causing metastasis and therapeutic resistance, leading to recurrence and death in patients. The concept that PCSCs are characterized by their high plasticity and self-renewal capacities is central to this review. We focused specifically on the regulation of PCSCs, such as stemness-related signaling pathways, stimuli in tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME), as well as the development of innovative stemness-targeted therapies. Understanding the biological behavior of PCSCs with plasticity and the molecular mechanisms regulating PC stemness will help to identify new treatment strategies to treat this horrible disease.
Funder
the National Natural Science Foundation of China
the National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding
the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences
the Nonprofit Central Research Institute Fund of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC