Cancer stem cells in sarcomas: Getting to the stemness core.
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304416518301892 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.07.006 |
| Keywords | Cancer stem cells; sarcoma; markers; Sox2; pluripotency factors; mesenchymal stem cells |
| Description | Sarcomas are rare tumors but represent the third most common malignancy in children. The cancer stem cell (CSC) paradigm is well established, and CSCs have been intensively studied in sarcomas in the past decade. This review summarizes current knowledge on CSCs in sarcomas and provides new perspectives on the role of a deregulated stemness program in sarcomagenesis. Cell surface markers have so far failed to specifically target sarcoma CSCs. Sarcomas likely arise from immature cells that undergo pathological reprogramming. Transcription factor Sox2, which is frequently upregulated in sarcomas, is directly involved in this process, and its crucial role in the acquisition and maintenance of the CSC phenotype has been demonstrated in various sarcomas. Sox2 is a core functional regulator of the stem-like state and is an outstanding marker of sarcoma CSCs. Fluorescence protein-based reporters of Sox2 expression might provide useful tools for subsequent studies of sarcoma CSCs. |
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