Stemness regulation in prostate cancer: prostate cancer stem cells and targeted therapy
Background Increasing evidence indicates that cancer stem cells (CSCs) and cancer stem-like cells form a special subpopulation of cells that are ubiquitous in tumors. These cells exhibit similar characteristics to those of normal stem cells in tissues; moreover, they are capable of self-renewal and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Annals of Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2024.2442067 |
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| author | Hao Liang Bin Zhou Peixin Li Xiaoyi Zhang Shijie Zhang Yaozhong Zhang Shengwen Yao Sifeng Qu Jun Chen |
| author_facet | Hao Liang Bin Zhou Peixin Li Xiaoyi Zhang Shijie Zhang Yaozhong Zhang Shengwen Yao Sifeng Qu Jun Chen |
| author_sort | Hao Liang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Increasing evidence indicates that cancer stem cells (CSCs) and cancer stem-like cells form a special subpopulation of cells that are ubiquitous in tumors. These cells exhibit similar characteristics to those of normal stem cells in tissues; moreover, they are capable of self-renewal and differentiation, as well as high tumorigenicity and drug resistance. In prostate cancer (PCa), it is difficult to kill these cells using androgen signaling inhibitors and chemotherapy drugs. Consequently, the residual prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) mediate tumor recurrence and progression.Objective This review aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of PCSCs, with a particular emphasis on potential therapeutic strategies targeting these cells.Methods After searching in PubMed and Embase databases using ‘prostate cancer’ and ‘cancer stem cells’ as keywords, studies related were compiled and examined.Results In this review, we detail the origin and characteristics of PCSCs, introduce the regulatory pathways closely related to CSC survival and stemness maintenance, and discuss the link between epithelial–mesenchymal transition, tumor microenvironment and tumor stemness. Furthermore, we introduce the currently available therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs, including signaling pathway inhibitors, anti-apoptotic protein inhibitors, microRNAs, nanomedicine, and immunotherapy. Lastly, we summarize the limitations of current CSC research and mention future research directions.Conclusion A deeper understanding of the regulatory network and molecular markers of PCSCs could facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting these cells. Previous preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential of this treatment approach. In the future, this may offer alternative treatment options for PCa patients. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0f7f13f8a8734b00bc67802cdec9fdd6 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0785-3890 1365-2060 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-0f7f13f8a8734b00bc67802cdec9fdd62025-08-20T02:31:34ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAnnals of Medicine0785-38901365-20602025-12-0157110.1080/07853890.2024.2442067Stemness regulation in prostate cancer: prostate cancer stem cells and targeted therapyHao Liang0Bin Zhou1Peixin Li2Xiaoyi Zhang3Shijie Zhang4Yaozhong Zhang5Shengwen Yao6Sifeng Qu7Jun Chen8Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), Qingdao, ChinaBackground Increasing evidence indicates that cancer stem cells (CSCs) and cancer stem-like cells form a special subpopulation of cells that are ubiquitous in tumors. These cells exhibit similar characteristics to those of normal stem cells in tissues; moreover, they are capable of self-renewal and differentiation, as well as high tumorigenicity and drug resistance. In prostate cancer (PCa), it is difficult to kill these cells using androgen signaling inhibitors and chemotherapy drugs. Consequently, the residual prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) mediate tumor recurrence and progression.Objective This review aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of PCSCs, with a particular emphasis on potential therapeutic strategies targeting these cells.Methods After searching in PubMed and Embase databases using ‘prostate cancer’ and ‘cancer stem cells’ as keywords, studies related were compiled and examined.Results In this review, we detail the origin and characteristics of PCSCs, introduce the regulatory pathways closely related to CSC survival and stemness maintenance, and discuss the link between epithelial–mesenchymal transition, tumor microenvironment and tumor stemness. Furthermore, we introduce the currently available therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs, including signaling pathway inhibitors, anti-apoptotic protein inhibitors, microRNAs, nanomedicine, and immunotherapy. Lastly, we summarize the limitations of current CSC research and mention future research directions.Conclusion A deeper understanding of the regulatory network and molecular markers of PCSCs could facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting these cells. Previous preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential of this treatment approach. In the future, this may offer alternative treatment options for PCa patients.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2024.2442067Prostate cancercancer stem-like cellcancer stem cellstumor heterogeneitystemnesstargeted therapy |
| spellingShingle | Hao Liang Bin Zhou Peixin Li Xiaoyi Zhang Shijie Zhang Yaozhong Zhang Shengwen Yao Sifeng Qu Jun Chen Stemness regulation in prostate cancer: prostate cancer stem cells and targeted therapy Annals of Medicine Prostate cancer cancer stem-like cell cancer stem cells tumor heterogeneity stemness targeted therapy |
| title | Stemness regulation in prostate cancer: prostate cancer stem cells and targeted therapy |
| title_full | Stemness regulation in prostate cancer: prostate cancer stem cells and targeted therapy |
| title_fullStr | Stemness regulation in prostate cancer: prostate cancer stem cells and targeted therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stemness regulation in prostate cancer: prostate cancer stem cells and targeted therapy |
| title_short | Stemness regulation in prostate cancer: prostate cancer stem cells and targeted therapy |
| title_sort | stemness regulation in prostate cancer prostate cancer stem cells and targeted therapy |
| topic | Prostate cancer cancer stem-like cell cancer stem cells tumor heterogeneity stemness targeted therapy |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2024.2442067 |
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