Overcoming chemoresistance in cancer stem cells with the help of microRNAs in colorectal cancer

Abstract

It has been recognized that acute resistance to chemotherapy mediated by post-transcriptional and translational control is crucial to influence response and survival in cancer treatment. Tumor cells are highly heterogeneous and have the ability to adapt a resistance phenotype through epigenetic regulations such as microRNAs. This poses a major challenge to the treatment of advanced stage colon cancer patients. Colon cancer stem cells have been identified as one of the major contributors to resistance of colon cancer to chemotherapy. Through various mechanisms, these cells are able to resist the effects of traditional chemotherapeutics. The challenge posed by these cells is further enhanced by their plastic nature, where cells can transition between non-stem cancer cells and cancer stem cells creating a moving target. In this editorial, we discuss some of the recent advancements in overcoming chemoresistance associated with colon cancer stem cells with the help of microRNAs.

Keywords: apoptosis; autophagy; cancer stem cell; chemoresistance; chemotherapy; colorectal cancer; epigenetic; microRNA; microenvironment; stemness.