Hide-and-seek: The interplay between cancer stem cells and the immune system

Mohammad Sultan, Krysta Mila Coyle, Dejan Vidovic, Margaret Lois Thomas, Shashi Gujar, Paola Marcato

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

80 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The enhanced ability of cancer stem cells (CSCs) to give rise to new tumors suggests that these cells may also have an advantage in evading immune detection and elimination. This tumor-forming ability, combined with the known plasticity of the immune system, which can play both protumorigenic and antitumorigenic roles, has motivated investigations into the interaction between CSCs and the immune system. Herein, we review the interplay between host immunity and CSCs by examining the immune-related mechanisms that favor CSCs and the CSC-mediated expansion of protumorigenic immune cells. Furthermore, we discuss immune cells, such as natural killer cells, that preferentially target CSCs and the strategies used by CSCs to evade immune detection and destruction. An increased understanding of these interactions and the pathways that regulate them may allow us to harness immune system components to create new adjuvant therapies that eradicate CSCs and improve patient survival.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberbgw115
Pages (from-to)107-118
Number of pages12
JournalCarcinogenesis
Volume38
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 1 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author 2016.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Cancer Research

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article
  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Hide-and-seek: The interplay between cancer stem cells and the immune system'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this