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

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 an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Carcinogenesis (New York) 2017-02, Vol.38 (2), p.107-118
Main Authors: Sultan, Mohammad, Coyle, Krysta Mila, Vidovic, Dejan, Thomas, Margaret Lois, Gujar, Shashi, Marcato, Paola
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm - immunology
Humans
Immunity - drug effects
Killer Cells, Natural - immunology
Killer Cells, Natural - pathology
Neoplasms - drug therapy
Neoplasms - immunology
Neoplasms - pathology
Neoplastic Stem Cells - drug effects
Neoplastic Stem Cells - immunology
Neoplastic Stem Cells - physiology
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0143-3334
1460-2180
DOI:10.1093/carcin/bgw115