Signaling Pathways Governing Endometrial Cancer Stem Cells Behavior
Signaling Pathways Governing Endometrial Cancer Stem Cells Behavior
Maryam Farzaneh,1,*
1. Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Introduction: Endometrial cancer is the most gynecological malignancy in the female genital tract. Endometrial cancer stem cells (ECSC) are a small population of cancer cells that represent a crucial role in the metastasis of endometrial cancer cells to other organs in the body. ECSC can proliferate and give rise to mature cancer cells, which are found to participate in the aggressiveness of metastatic lesions. Therefore, targeting ECSC can be a valuable strategy for drug development against the metastasis of endometrial cancer.
Methods: Previous studies have demonstrated that several signaling pathways, including Wnt, mTOR, EGFR, NOTCH, STAT3, VEGF, and SHH show modest effects and regulate the growth, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and tumorigenesis of ECSC. miRNAs also play an important role in ECSC self-renewal, progression, and drug resistance.
Results: Hence, targeting these pathways might be a novel therapeutic approach for endometrial cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Conclusion: This mini-review aims to characterize the main signaling pathways involved in the stimulation of ECSCs proliferation and tumorigenesis.