Cell plasticity is the fundamental ability of cells to change their properties in a reversible way. It plays a critical role in different physiological processes, as well as in the evolution and progression of multiple diseases, particularly cancer. Tumor cell plasticity is regulated by highly integrated and complex interactions between endogenous and exogenous stimuli. In this context, phenotype switching contributes to high heterogeneity, therapeutic resistance and clonal long-term maintenance within the tumor. Key players in these events are cancer cells with stem-like properties (cancer stem cells, CSCs), endowed with an enormous potential for phenotype plasticity, differentiation and self-renewal capability. In fact, it is noteworthy that CSCs are able to trans-differentiate towards different cell lineages in order to acquire a more aggressive and therapy-resistant phenotype.
In the last years, the idea that several cancers might have a subpopulation of self-renewing cells that sustain the development, metastases, drug resistance, and recurrence of tumors has emerged. Several shreds of evidence demonstrated that targeting cell surface markers and stemness-related pathways of cancer stem cells (CSCs) represents an emerging therapeutic approach. The possibility to impair CSCs properties through the induction of differentiation represents an interesting and promising anticancer strategy to overcome therapy resistance. Despite many advances that have been made in the application of differentiation-based therapy in solid tumors, further studies are needed to understand the real potential of this approach as a therapeutic option.
In this Research Topic, we aim to generate a discussion for scientists involved in cancer stem cell properties and differentiation. We welcome the submission of Review articles, Systematic Reviews, and Original Research Articles, covering, but not limited to, the following subtopics:
1) Characterization of CSC differentiation markers and mechanisms
2) Stemness-related pathways in cancer cells
3) Differentiation-based approach for therapeutic purposes
4) Induction or inhibition of CSC differentiation/trans-differentiation
5) Tumor cell plasticity in therapy resistance
Important Note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.
Cell plasticity is the fundamental ability of cells to change their properties in a reversible way. It plays a critical role in different physiological processes, as well as in the evolution and progression of multiple diseases, particularly cancer. Tumor cell plasticity is regulated by highly integrated and complex interactions between endogenous and exogenous stimuli. In this context, phenotype switching contributes to high heterogeneity, therapeutic resistance and clonal long-term maintenance within the tumor. Key players in these events are cancer cells with stem-like properties (cancer stem cells, CSCs), endowed with an enormous potential for phenotype plasticity, differentiation and self-renewal capability. In fact, it is noteworthy that CSCs are able to trans-differentiate towards different cell lineages in order to acquire a more aggressive and therapy-resistant phenotype.
In the last years, the idea that several cancers might have a subpopulation of self-renewing cells that sustain the development, metastases, drug resistance, and recurrence of tumors has emerged. Several shreds of evidence demonstrated that targeting cell surface markers and stemness-related pathways of cancer stem cells (CSCs) represents an emerging therapeutic approach. The possibility to impair CSCs properties through the induction of differentiation represents an interesting and promising anticancer strategy to overcome therapy resistance. Despite many advances that have been made in the application of differentiation-based therapy in solid tumors, further studies are needed to understand the real potential of this approach as a therapeutic option.
In this Research Topic, we aim to generate a discussion for scientists involved in cancer stem cell properties and differentiation. We welcome the submission of Review articles, Systematic Reviews, and Original Research Articles, covering, but not limited to, the following subtopics:
1) Characterization of CSC differentiation markers and mechanisms
2) Stemness-related pathways in cancer cells
3) Differentiation-based approach for therapeutic purposes
4) Induction or inhibition of CSC differentiation/trans-differentiation
5) Tumor cell plasticity in therapy resistance
Important Note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.
