Open AccessPancreatic cancer tumour initiating cells: the molecular regulation and therapeutic values
Author(s) -
Ni Xiaoling,
Long Jiang,
Cen Putao,
Chen Leon,
Yang Jingxuan,
Li Min
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01478.x
Subject(s) - tics , pancreatic cancer , microrna , cancer research , metastasis , hedgehog signaling pathway , cancer , hedgehog , biology , radiation therapy , bioinformatics , medicine , oncology , signal transduction , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene
• Introduction• Surface markers of pancreatic TICs• Signalling pathways in pancreatic TICs• Function of microRNAs in TICs regulation, self‐renewal and differentiation• New therapies targeting the deregulated pathways and miRNAs to treat TICs in pancreatic cancer• ConclusionPancreatic cancer is an aggressive solid tumour characterized by its local invasion, early metastasis and resistance to standard chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Tumour initiating cells (TICs) are not only capable of self‐renewal and differentiation, but also play an important role in multi‐drug resistance, and thus become a popular topic in cancer research especially in pancreatic cancer. In this review, we summarize the current progress of TICs in tumourigenesis, various newly identified surface markers of pancreatic TICs, and the signalling pathways such as epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, sonic hedgehog and Notch that regulate TICs. We also discuss the role which microRNA plays in TICs as well as its application in TIC‐targeted therapy along with other approaches.