Biological and clinical relevance of stem cells in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

摘要: Cancer stem cells (CSC) have been identified in a growing number of human malignancies. CSC are functionally defined by their ability to self-renew and recapitulate tumors the ectopic setting, studies shown that they display other functional characteristics, such as invasion drug resistance. These unique properties implicate role for clinical consequences, initial tumor formation, relapse following treatment, metastasis, resistance, suggesting major factor directing outcomes. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is highly-aggressive disease with propensity early metastasis Tumorigenic pancreatic cancer using cell surface antigens CD44, CD24, CD133, well high expression aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). In vitro vivo ALDH- CD133-expressing greater ALDH-expressing be resistant conventional chemotherapy. samples from patients resected adenocarcinoma, presence was associated worse overall survival. The development CSC-targeting therapies might important changing outcomes this disease, others we begun identify novel compounds block function. This review will discuss biological relevance cancer, therapeutic strategies target them.