Cancer Stem Cells and Their Vesicles, Together in Cancer Progression: Perspectives for Medical Development

Despite several therapeutic strategies having been developed, cancer is still one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Metastasis, heterogeneity, chemotherapy resistance, recurrence, and evasion of immune surveillance are the primary reasons for the failure of cancer treatment. Tumor burden is a complex microenvironment where different cell populations coexist and have intense cross-talk. Among them, a heterogeneous population of tumor cells with staminal features is grouped under the definition of cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs play a role in tumor progression, drug resistance, and disease relapse. Furthermore, CSCs secrete a wide variety of extracellular vesicles (CSC-EVs) with different cargos, including proteins, lipids, ssDNA, dsDNA, mRNA, siRNA, or miRNA. EVs are internalized by other cells, orienting the microenvironment toward a pro-tumorigenic and pro-metastatic one.

Cancer stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles have essential roles in tumor progression, metastasis, tumor angiogenesis, and chemoresistance. In the future, understanding the roles of CSC-EVs in tumor biology as well as controlling EV production in CSCs may be one of the most promising strategies to stop cancer treatment failures.

In this Research Topic, we welcome original research and review papers as well as short communications highlighting the roles of CSCs and EVs in tumor growth, progression, and metastasis, and how they affect drug resistance and disease relapse. Furthermore, we welcome papers analyzing the potential roles of CSC-EVs as a target or vehicle of new therapies. In conclusion, we are interested in papers discussing the roles of CSC-EVs:

• In tumor biology;

• In tumor growth, progression, and metastasis;

• As next-generation drug delivery platforms;

• As indicators of treatment efficacy;

• As diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: cancer stem cells, CSC, EV, extracellular vesicles

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.