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Review
. 2010 Aug-Oct;13(4-5):109-18.
doi: 10.1016/j.drup.2010.07.001. Epub 2010 Aug 9.

Targeting miRNAs involved in cancer stem cell and EMT regulation: An emerging concept in overcoming drug resistance

Zhiwei Wang  1 , Yiwei Li, Aamir Ahmad, Asfar S Azmi, Dejuan Kong, Sanjeev Banerjee, Fazlul H Sarkar
Affiliations
Review

Targeting miRNAs involved in cancer stem cell and EMT regulation: An emerging concept in overcoming drug resistance

Zhiwei Wang et al. Drug Resist Updat. 2010 Aug-Oct.

Abstract

Although chemotherapy is an important therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, it fails to eliminate all tumor cells due to intrinsic or acquired drug resistance, which is the most common cause of tumor recurrence. Emerging evidence suggests an intricate role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-type cells in anticancer drug resistance. Recent studies also demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in the regulation of drug resistance. Here we will discuss current knowledge regarding CSCs, EMT and the role of regulation by miRNAs in the context of drug resistance, tumor recurrence and metastasis. A better understanding of the molecular intricacies of drug-resistant cells will help to design novel therapeutic strategies by selective targeting of CSCs and EMT-phenotypic cells through alterations in the expression of specific miRNAs towards eradicating tumor recurrence and metastasis. A particular promising lead is the potential synergistic combination of natural compounds that affect critical miRNAs, such as curcumin or epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) with chemotherapeutic agents.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The connection between EMT, cancer stem cells, and miRNA. EMT cells have cancer stem cell-like features, and CSCs exhibit mesenchymal phenotype. Aberrant miRNA expression has been correlated with the formation of CSCs and the acquisition of EMT phenotype. miRNAs affect and connect CSCs through regulation of EMT.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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