Cancer stem cell signaling pathway (CSC signaling pathway)

Cancer stem cell (CSC) signaling pathways are a collection of evolutionarily conserved networks, primarily including the Wnt, Notch, and Hedgehog pathways, that regulate the self-renewal, pluripotency, and survival of a subpopulation of tumor cells known as cancer stem cells [3, 4]. These cells are characterized by their ability to initiate tumors, promote metastasis, and resist conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often leading to disease recurrence [9, 10]. Therapeutic targeting of these pathways involves the use of small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies designed to disrupt ligand-receptor interactions or inhibit critical intracellular signaling nodes [10, 15]. However, because these pathways are also essential for the maintenance and homeostasis of normal adult stem cells in tissues like the bone marrow and intestine, achieving a therapeutic window without significant toxicity remains a major challenge [11, 12]. Current research focuses on identifying CSC-specific markers and developing combination therapies to overcome pathway redundancy and compensatory mechanisms [8, 11].

Other names

Cancer stem cell pathwaysCSC pathwaysStemness signaling pathwaysCancer stemness pathways

Inhibition of key developmental signaling cascades (Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog) through ligand antagonism, receptor blockade, or inhibition of downstream intracellular mediators to deplete the cancer stem cell population.