Introduction: In recent years, the use of stem cells has been proposed as a new and promising method in cancer treatment. Stem cells, especially cancer stem cells (CSCs), play an important role in the development and spread of cancers due to their ability to induce tumorigenesis and metastasis. Research has shown that CSCs can play a key role in drug resistance, metastasis and recurrence of cancers. CSCs are derived from natural stem cells or cell progenitors and have the ability of self-renewal and unlimited proliferation, which makes them one of the important targets in cancer treatment. These cells are of interest in medical research due to their high potency, but ethical issues related to the use of these cells prevent their widespread use in clinical treatment. These cells have the ability to transform into different types of cells, and for this reason, they are of great importance in the field of advanced research. However, due to ethical concerns and legal restrictions in many countries, the use of these cells in clinical treatments still faces several challenges. Adult stem cells (ASCs) are also used in cancer treatment. In particular, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), play an important role in existing therapies. HSCs can produce all of the body's blood cells and are currently the only type of stem cell approved for use in clinical therapy. These cells are especially used in the treatment of blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, helping patients to generate new blood cells after chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Methods: MSCs have also been considered in clinical treatments due to their ability to regenerate tissues. In addition to the ability to differentiate into different types of body tissue cells, these cells can migrate to the damaged or tumor site and play a supportive role there. For this reason, they are known as new therapeutic agents to deal with hard-to-treat cancers. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) as a subset of tumor cells that have the ability to self-renew, play a role in tumor growth and spread. These cells are the main target of new research in the field of oncology, especially because of their high resistance to chemotherapy drugs.
Results: For example, while traditional treatments usually target normal cancer cells, CSCs persist by resisting these treatments and cause cancer recurrence. Therefore, identifying and destroying these cells can be the key to success in new treatments. One of the main challenges in cancer treatment with stem cells is the precise identification and targeting of CSCs. Research has shown that specific biomarkers such as CD133 and CD44 can help identify these cells. These markers are commonly expressed on the surface of cancer cells and can be used as targets for targeted therapies. By using these markers, doctors will be able to attack cancer cells more precisely and reduce the possibility of cancer recurrence. Also, molecular signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch and Hedgehog play an important role in regulating the growth and survival of CSCs. These pathways have been explored as new therapeutic targets, and blocking them can lead to halting tumor growth. Specifically, blocking the signaling pathways of these cells can reduce their ability to proliferate and metastasize. In addition, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered as one of the therapeutic tools in new research due to their ability to migrate to tumors and differentiate into cancer cells. These cells can act as carriers of antitumor agents and prevent tumor growth and metastasis. MSCs are able to migrate to the tumor site and help control cancer growth by secreting anti-inflammatory and antitumor factors.
Conclusion: Finally, although the use of stem cells in cancer treatment is promising, there are several challenges, including ethical problems, side effects, and the need for further research. In addition, there is still a long way to widespread use of these methods in treatment clinics, and researchers are still looking to improve treatment methods and reduce the side effects of these treatments. Hence, the development of new methods to identify, isolate, and target CSCs and improve stem cell-based therapies will continue to be one of the hot topics of scientific research in the coming years.
Keywords: Cancer stem cell, Molecular markers, Tumor, Signaling Pathway