Open AccessThe Cross Talk between Cancer Stem Cells/Cancer Initiating Cells and Tumor Microenvironment: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle for the Efficient Targeting of these Cells with Immunotherapy
Author(s) -
Shilpa Ravindran,
Saad Rasool,
Cristina Maccalli
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
cancer microenvironment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.626
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1875-2292
pISSN - 1875-2284
DOI - 10.1007/s12307-019-00233-1
Subject(s) - immunosurveillance , cancer stem cell , tumor microenvironment , cancer research , immunotherapy , cancer , cancer immunotherapy , cancer cell , medicine , population , stem cell , immunology , tumor cells , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , environmental health
Cancer Stem Cells/Cancer Initiating Cells (CSCs/CICs) is a rare sub-population within a tumor that is responsible for tumor formation, progression and resistance to therapies. The interaction between CSCs/CICs and tumor microenvironment (TME) can sustain "stemness" properties and promote their survival and plasticity. This cross-talk is also pivotal in regulating and modulating CSC/CIC properties. This review will provide an overview of the mechanisms underlying the mutual interaction between CSCs/CICs and TME. Particular focus will be dedicated to the immunological profile of CSCs/CICs and its role in orchestrating cancer immunosurveillance. Moreover, the available immunotherapy strategies that can target CSCs/CICs and of their possible implementation will be discussed. Overall, the dissection of the mechanisms regulating the CSC/CIC-TME interaction is warranted to understand the plasticity and immunoregulatory properties of stem-like tumor cells and to achieve complete eradications of tumors through the optimization of immunotherapy.