Prisacariu IA, Koumarelas KE, Papadopoulos P, Schizas D, Christodoulidis G. From bench to bedside: Stem cell applications in gastric cancer therapy and their emerging clinical relevance. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(3): 115835 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i3.115835]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Grigorios Christodoulidis, MD, Doctor, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, Mezourlo, Larissa 41110, Thessalia, Greece. gregsurg@yahoo.gr
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Oncology
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Minireviews
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Mar 15, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 12, 2026
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World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
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1948-5204
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Prisacariu IA, Koumarelas KE, Papadopoulos P, Schizas D, Christodoulidis G. From bench to bedside: Stem cell applications in gastric cancer therapy and their emerging clinical relevance. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(3): 115835 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i3.115835]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Mar 15, 2026; 18(3): 115835 Published online Mar 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i3.115835
From bench to bedside: Stem cell applications in gastric cancer therapy and their emerging clinical relevance
Ioana A Prisacariu, Konstantinos E Koumarelas, Panagiotis Papadopoulos, Dimitrios Schizas, Grigorios Christodoulidis
Ioana A Prisacariu, Department of Rehabilitation, Luzerner Kantonsspital Wolhusen, Lucerne 6110, Luzern, Switzerland
Konstantinos E Koumarelas, Department of General and Orthopaedic Surgery, Spitalverbund Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Herisau 9100, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland
Panagiotis Papadopoulos, Department of General Surgery, Spitalverbund Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Spital Herisau, Herisau 9100, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland
Dimitrios Schizas, Department of First Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
Grigorios Christodoulidis, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa 41110, Thessalia, Greece
Co-first authors: Ioana A Prisacariu and Konstantinos E Koumarelas.
Author contributions: Prisacariu IA and Koumarelas KE contributed equally to this work as co-first authors. The reasons for designating them as co–first authors are threefold: First, the research was performed as a collaborative effort, and the designation of co-first authorship accurately reflects the distribution of responsibilities and the substantial time and effort invested by both authors in completing the study and manuscript. This joint leadership also facilitated effective communication and coordination of post-submission matters, enhancing the quality and reliability of the final work; Second, the overall research team included authors with diverse expertise and skills, and the co-first authorship designation best reflects this diversity. By contributing complementary perspectives in study design, data synthesis, and manuscript drafting, both authors ensured a more comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the research question, thereby enriching readers’ understanding; Third, both authors contributed efforts of equal substance throughout the research process from literature search and study selection to data analysis, drafting, and critical revision. Recognizing them as co-first authors acknowledges and respects this equality of contribution, while underlining the collaborative and team-oriented spirit of the project; Prisacariu IA, Koumarelas KE and Papadopoulos P wrote and edited the manuscript; Christodoulidis G and Schizas D conceived the study, edited and finalized the manuscript for submission, reviewed and approved the submitted manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Corresponding author: Grigorios Christodoulidis, MD, Doctor, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, Mezourlo, Larissa 41110, Thessalia, Greece. gregsurg@yahoo.gr
Received: October 27, 2025 Revised: November 16, 2025 Accepted: December 23, 2025 Published online: March 15, 2026 Processing time: 136 Days and 15.1 Hours
Abstract
Gastric cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies worldwide, with high recurrence, metastasis, and resistance to conventional therapies. Increasing evidence points to gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) as critical drivers of tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic failure. These cells are regulated by developmental signaling pathways, epigenetic networks, metabolic adaptations, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment, all of which sustain stemness and promote immune evasion. Emerging therapeutic strategies now target these vulnerabilities through pathway inhibition, RNA-based approaches, modulation of the tumor microenvironment, nanotechnology platforms, and immunotherapies, supported by preclinical and translational evidence. This review focuses on the clinical relevance of GCSCs, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying their maintenance, and the evolving therapeutic and precision medicine strategies aimed at overcoming stemness-driven resistance in gastric cancer. However, despite substantial preclinical progress, clinical translation remains limited by the lack of standardized biomarkers, validated endpoints and prospective trials, highlighting the urgent need to bridge this gap to achieve true stemness-informed precision therapy.
Core Tip: Gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) are key mediators of recurrence, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Understanding their regulation through signaling pathways, epigenetic mechanisms, and tumor microenvironmental support provides opportunities for novel therapeutic interventions. This review highlights the clinical relevance of GCSCs, current mechanistic insights, and emerging strategies such as RNA-based therapies, immunotherapy, and nanotechnology offering a precision medicine framework to improve outcomes in gastric cancer.
