Cancer Stem Cells in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Roman Bubin, Romans Uljanovs, Ilze Strumfa (Corresponding Author)

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)
23 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The first discovery of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in leukaemia triggered active research on stemness in neoplastic tissues. CSCs represent a subpopulation of malignant cells, defined by unique properties: a dedifferentiated state, self-renewal, pluripotency, an inherent resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy, the presence of certain epigenetic alterations, as well as a higher tumorigenicity in comparison with the general population of cancer cells. A combination of these features highlights CSCs as a high-priority target during cancer treatment. The presence of CSCs has been confirmed in multiple malignancies, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, an entity that is well known for its dismal prognosis. As the aggressive course of pancreatic carcinoma is partly attributable to treatment resistance, CSCs could contribute to adverse outcomes. The aim of this review is to summarize the current information regarding the markers and molecular features of CSCs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and the therapeutic options to remove them.

Original languageEnglish
Article number7030
Pages (from-to)1-23
Number of pages23
JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume24
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2023

Keywords*

  • cancer stem cells
  • epigenetics
  • epithelial–mesenchymal transition
  • pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
  • signalling pathways

Field of Science*

  • 3.1 Basic medicine
  • 3.2 Clinical medicine

Publication Type*

  • 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database

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