Guest Editors
Dr. Chan-Yen Kuo, Department of Research, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taiwan.
Dr. Luciano Vellón, Stem Cells Lab, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina.
Prof. Heidi Abrahamse, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Summary
Cancer, a relentless adversary in modern medicine, continues to challenge our understanding and treatment strategies. Despite advancements in therapies, the persistence of tumors and their resistance to conventional treatments remain formidable obstacles. Within this landscape, the emergence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) has sparked intense investigation for their pivotal role in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy resistance. CSCs, a subset within tumors endowed with self-renewal capacity and multipotent differentiation potential, represent a critical reservoir driving tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic evasion. This special issue delves into the intricate molecular mechanisms underpinning CSC biology and their profound implications for cancer pathogenesis and clinical outcomes.
Key Themes:
1. Signaling Pathways and Therapy Resistance: Explore the signaling cascades governing CSC-mediated therapy resistance and disease progression. Unravel the molecular underpinnings driving CSC survival and identify therapeutic vulnerabilities.
2. Microenvironmental Crosstalk: Investigate the dynamic interplay between CSCs and the tumor microenvironment, including stromal cells and immune infiltrates. Decipher how CSCs shape their surroundings to promote tumor growth and evade immune surveillance.
3. Metabolic Adaptations of CSCs: Examine the metabolic rewiring of CSCs and its role in fueling tumor growth and survival. Identify metabolic vulnerabilities for targeted intervention.
4. Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets: Discuss the identification of CSC-specific biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Evaluate emerging therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs to improve treatment outcomes.
5. Epigenetic Regulation: Investigate the epigenetic mechanisms governing CSC phenotype and plasticity. Explore how epigenetic alterations drive CSC behavior and therapy resistance.
6. Translational Perspectives: Bridge the gap between bench and bedside by discussing the translation of CSC research into clinical practice. Examine the challenges and opportunities in developing CSC-targeted therapies for cancer patients.
7. Reprogramming and CSCs: Investigating the molecular mechanisms that drive the reprogramming of cancer cells into cancer stem cells offers a promising avenue for identifying targeted therapies. These therapies have the potential to eradicate these elusive cell populations, thereby significantly improving the overall prognosis for individuals with cancer.
This special issue endeavors to provide a comprehensive overview of CSC research, shedding light on recent discoveries and charting a course for future therapeutic development. By bringing together expertise from diverse disciplines, we aim to catalyze interdisciplinary collaborations and foster innovative approaches to combatting cancer through the lens of CSC biology.
Keywords
cancer stem cells, therapy resistance, tumor microenvironment, biomarkers, therapeutic targets, pediatric oncology, epigenetics, translational research
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