©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Improving cancer therapy by targeting cancer stem cells: Directions, challenges, and clinical results
Pier Adelchi Ruffini, Valentina Vaja, Marcello Allegretti, Research and Development Department, Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A., 20122 Milano, Italy
Author contributions: Ruffini PA, Vaja V and Allegretti M contributed to this paper.
Conflict-of-interest: Pier Adelchi Ruffini, Valentina Vaja and Marcello Allegretti are employees of Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A.
Correspondence to: Pier Adelchi Ruffini, MD, PhD, Research and Development Department, Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A., via S. Lucia 6, 20122 Milano, Italy. pieradelchi.ruffini@dompe.com
Telephone: +39-02-58383500 Fax: +39-02-58383324
Received: September 30, 2014
Peer-review started: October 1, 2014
First decision: October 28, 2014
Revised: November 26, 2014
Accepted: February 9, 2015
Article in press: February 11, 2015
Published online: March 9, 2015
Processing time: 163 Days and 2 Hours
Peer-review started: October 1, 2014
First decision: October 28, 2014
Revised: November 26, 2014
Accepted: February 9, 2015
Article in press: February 11, 2015
Published online: March 9, 2015
Processing time: 163 Days and 2 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Cancer stem cells are a rare cell population with two embedded fundamental properties: self-renewal and differentiation into the heterogeneous lineages of cancer cells that comprise the tumor. While the identification and role of such cells has been clearly established in vitro and in animal models, uncertainty remains as to the role they play in human tumors and their relevance as therapeutic targets. The article summarizes and discusses the latest findings and challenges on cancer stem cell research, the significance of these cells beyond experimental models and suggests avenues for development of cancer stem cell targeting agents.