Radiotherapy targeting cancer stem cells "awakens" them to induce tumour relapse and metastasis in oral cancer.
10.1038/s41368-020-00087-0
- Author:
Yangfan LIU
1
;
Miao YANG
1
;
Jingjing LUO
2
;
Hongmei ZHOU
3
Author Information
1. State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
2. State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Preventive Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. jingjing.luo@scu.edu.cn.
3. State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. zhouhm@scu.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Humans;
Mouth Neoplasms;
pathology;
radiotherapy;
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local;
radiotherapy;
Neoplastic Stem Cells;
pathology;
radiation effects;
Radiotherapy;
methods;
Recurrence
- From:
International Journal of Oral Science
2020;12(1):19-19
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Radiotherapy is one of the most common treatments for oral cancer. However, in the clinic, recurrence and metastasis of oral cancer occur after radiotherapy, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), considered the "seeds" of cancer, have been confirmed to be in a quiescent state in most established tumours, with their innate radioresistance helping them survive more easily when exposed to radiation than differentiated cancer cells. There is increasing evidence that CSCs play an important role in recurrence and metastasis post-radiotherapy in many cancers. However, little is known about how oral CSCs cause tumour recurrence and metastasis post-radiotherapy. In this review article, we will first summarise methods for the identification of oral CSCs and then focus on the characteristics of a CSC subpopulation induced by radiation, hereafter referred to as "awakened" CSCs, to highlight their response to radiotherapy and potential role in tumour recurrence and metastasis post-radiotherapy as well as potential therapeutics targeting CSCs. In addition, we explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting these "awakened" CSCs to solve the serious clinical challenges of recurrence and metastasis in oral cancer after radiotherapy.
