Cancer Stemness as a Target for Immunotherapy is Shaped by Proinflammatory Stress

Curr Stem Cell Res Ther. 2021;16(7):792-800. doi: 10.2174/1574888X15666200309145901.

Abstract

Cancer stem cells represent a rare subpopulation of cancer cells carrying self-renewal and differentiation features in multi-step tumorigenesis, tumor recurrence and metastasis. Proinflammatory stress is highly associated with cancer stemness via induction of cytokines, tumorpromoting immune cells and cancer stemness-related signaling pathways. This review summarizes the major pro-inflammatory factors affecting cancer stem cell characteristics and the critical immunotherapeutic strategies to eliminate cancer stem cells.

Keywords: Inflammation; cancer stem cells; cancer stemness; immunotherapeutic strategies.; pro-inflammatory cytokines; pro-inflammatory stress.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinogenesis*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy*
  • Inflammation
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells* / cytology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells* / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction