Cancer stem cells and radioresistance. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rycaj, Kiera; Tang, Dean G.
• Is Part Of: International journal of radiation biology. Volume 90:Number 8(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 615
• Page End: 621
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: Radiation -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Radiobiology -- Periodicals; 571.45
• DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2014.892227
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-3002

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Purpose:</italic> Radiation therapy has made significant contributions to cancer treatment. However, despite continuous improvements, tumor recurrence and therapy resistance still occur in a high proportion of patients. One underlying reason for this radioresistance might be attributable to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSC). The purpose of this review is to discuss CSC-specific mechanisms that confer radiation resistance.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions:</italic> We focus our discussions on breast cancer and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and conclude that both CSC-intrinsic and CSC-extrinsic factors as well as adaptive responses in CSC caused by irradiation and microenvironmental changes all make contributions to CSC-mediated radioresistance. Our discussions emphasize CSC as novel therapeutic targets in order to potentiate radiotherapy efficacy.</p> </abstract>