Evaluating therapeutic efficacy against cancer stem cells: new challenges posed by a new paradigm

Cell Stem Cell. 2007 Nov;1(5):497-501. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2007.10.005.

Abstract

Current measures of anticancer drug efficacy reflect bulk cell killing and are poorly suited to detect activity against cancer stem cells (CSCs), which sustain tumor growth. The CSC paradigm necessitates a reexamination of methodologies used to evaluate clinical efficacy of anticancer therapies, as well as strategies employed during preclinical drug development.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cell Death
  • Cell Separation
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm, Residual
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Recurrence
  • Research Design
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Tumor