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An emerging role for cellular crosstalk in the cancer stem cell niche
Author(s) -
Oshimori Naoki,
Guo Yifei,
Taniguchi Sachiko
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.5655
Subject(s) - tumor microenvironment , cancer stem cell , biology , tumor progression , stromal cell , tumor initiation , epigenetics , cancer research , crosstalk , niche , pten , cancer cell , stem cell , cancer , metastasis , immunology , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , tumor cells , genetics , ecology , physics , gene , optics
Although cumulative genetic and epigenetic changes in cancer cells are correlated with tumor malignancy, accumulating evidence supports that tumor cell‐extrinsic mechanisms play an essential role in driving tumor progression. The tissue architecture surrounding tumor cells evolves during disease progression and becomes a significant barrier to cancer treatments. The functional traits of the tumor microenvironment (TME), either tumor suppressive or supportive, are defined by the distribution of various stromal cells and their sequential and reciprocal cellular interactions. Recent studies have uncovered a significant heterogeneity in stromal cells and identified specific subpopulations correlated with clinical outcomes, providing novel insights into the complex TME system that drives tumor progression and therapy resistance. Moreover, a small population of tumor cells with tumor‐initiating and drug‐resistant capabilities, cancer stem cells (CSCs), is maintained by the specialized TME, the so‐called CSC niche. The crosstalk between CSCs and niche cells is an attractive avenue for identifying the vulnerability of difficult‐to‐treat cancers. Here, we review the recent advance in understanding TME biology and its impact on CSCs. We then focus on a newly identified niche signaling loop by which CSCs promote malignant progression and drug resistance of squamous cell carcinoma. The CSC niche is a promising research field that needs more attention and could facilitate the development of durable cancer treatment. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.