James T. Oswald*, Haritosh Patel, Daid Khan, Ninweh N. Jeorje, Hossein Golzar, Erin L. Oswald and Shirley Tang Pages 2057 - 2071 ( 15 )
The innate abilities of cancer stem cells (CSCs), such as multi-drug resistance, drug efflux, quiescence and ionizing radiation tolerance, protect them from most traditional chemotherapeutics. As a result, this small subpopulation of persistent cells leads to more aggressive and chemoresistant cancers, causing tumour relapse and metastasis. This subpopulation is differentiated from the bulk tumour population through a wide variety of surface markers expressed on the cell surface. Recent developments in nanomedicine and targeting delivery methods have given rise to new possibilities for specifically targeting these markers and preferentially eliminating CSCs. Herein, we first summarize the range of surface markers identifying CSC populations in a variety of cancers; then, we discuss recent attempts to actively target CSCs and their niches using liposomal, nanoparticle, carbon nanotube and viral formulations.
Cancer Stem Cells (CSC), nanoparticles, targeted delivery, stem cell surface markers, liposomes, surface markers.
School Of Nanotechnology Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, School Of Nanotechnology Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, School Of Nanotechnology Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, School Of Nanotechnology Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Department of Chemistry & Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, School Of Nanotechnology Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Department of Chemistry & Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1