Surgical Oncology
Volume 19, Issue 1 , Pages 27-32, March 2010

Breast cancer chemoresistance: Emerging importance of cancer stem cells

  • Suebwong Chuthapisith

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +66 2 419 8016; fax: +66 2 412 9160.
    • ,
  • Jennifer Eremin

      Affiliations

    • Department of Research and Development, Lincoln County Hospital, Lincoln, UK
    • ,
  • Mohamed El-Sheemey

      Affiliations

    • Department of Research and Development, Lincoln County Hospital, Lincoln, UK
    • Department of Forensic and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Life and Social Sciences, University of Lincoln, UK
    • ,
  • Oleg Eremin

      Affiliations

    • Department of Research and Development, Lincoln County Hospital, Lincoln, UK
    • Department of Surgery, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK

Accepted 26 January 2009.

Abstract 

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have recently been documented in solid tumours. Evidence has suggested that CSCs are involved in carcinogenesis, tumour invasion and metastases, and resistance to various forms of therapies, including chemotherapy. Breast CSCs are characterised by the expression of CD44 but lack of CD24 (CD44+/CD24− cells). The mechanisms involved in chemoresistance of breast CSCs are complex and not clearly defined. Overexpression of ABC transporters, detoxification enzymes (aldehyde dehydrogenase), low cell turn over rate and the ability to activate the DNA check point response are possibly all involved. Innovative therapies, based on a better understanding of CSCs, should lead to enhanced and long-term cure rates in breast cancer.

Keywords: Cancer stem cells, Breast cancer, Chemoresistance

Abbreviations: CSCs, cancer stem cells, ABC, ATP binding cassette, SP, side population, ALDH1, aldehyde dehydrogenase-1, VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor

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PII: S0960-7404(09)00005-X

doi:10.1016/j.suronc.2009.01.004

Surgical Oncology
Volume 19, Issue 1 , Pages 27-32, March 2010

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