Clinical implications of cancer stem cells in digestive cancers: acquisition of stemness and prognostic impact

Ryouichi Tsunedomi; Kiyoshi Yoshimura; Nobuaki Suzuki; Shoichi Hazama; Hiroaki Nagano

doi:10.1007/s00595-020-01968-x

Clinical implications of cancer stem cells in digestive cancers: acquisition of stemness and prognostic impact

Surg Today. 2020 Dec;50(12):1560-1577. doi: 10.1007/s00595-020-01968-x. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Authors

Ryouichi Tsunedomi¹, Kiyoshi Yoshimura², Nobuaki Suzuki³, Shoichi Hazama^{3

4}, Hiroaki Nagano³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan. tsune-r@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
² Showa University Clinical Research Institute for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa, Tokyo, 142-8555, Japan.
³ Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, Department of Translational Research and Developmental Therapeutics against Cancer, Yamaguchi University, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan.

PMID: 32025858
DOI: 10.1007/s00595-020-01968-x

Abstract

Digestive system cancers are the most frequent cancers worldwide and often associated with poor prognosis because of their invasive and metastatic characteristics. Recent studies have found that the plasticity of cancer cells can impart cancer stem-like properties via the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Cancer stem-like properties such as tumor initiation are integral to the formation of metastasis, which is the main cause of poor prognosis. Numerous markers of cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in many types of cancer. Therefore, CSCs, via their stem cell-like functions, may play an important role in prognosis after surgery. While several reports have described prognostic analysis using CSC markers, few reviews have summarized CSCs and their association with prognosis. Herein, we review the prognostic potential of eight CSC markers, CD133, CD44, CD90, ALDH1A1, EPCAM, SOX2, SOX9, and LGR5, in digestive cancers including those of the pancreas, colon, liver, gastric, and esophagus.

Keywords: Cancer stem cell; Digestive cancer; Prognosis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

AC133 Antigen / metabolism
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family / genetics
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family / metabolism
Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
Digestive System Neoplasms / diagnosis
Digestive System Neoplasms / genetics*
Digestive System Neoplasms / mortality
Digestive System Neoplasms / pathology*
Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule / genetics
Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule / metabolism
Gene Expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Humans
Hyaluronan Receptors / genetics
Hyaluronan Receptors / metabolism
Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology*
Prognosis
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
Retinal Dehydrogenase / genetics
Retinal Dehydrogenase / metabolism
SOX9 Transcription Factor / genetics
SOX9 Transcription Factor / metabolism
SOXB1 Transcription Factors / metabolism
Survival Rate
Thy-1 Antigens / genetics
Thy-1 Antigens / metabolism

Substances

AC133 Antigen
Biomarkers, Tumor
CD44 protein, human
EPCAM protein, human
Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule
Hyaluronan Receptors
LGR5 protein, human
PROM1 protein, human
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
SOX2 protein, human
SOX9 Transcription Factor
SOX9 protein, human
SOXB1 Transcription Factors
Thy-1 Antigens
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family
ALDH1A1 protein, human
Retinal Dehydrogenase