Novel strategies to target therapy resistant cancer stem cells

Veltman, Hendrik (2021) Novel strategies to target therapy resistant cancer stem cells. Master's Thesis / Essay, Biomedical Sciences.

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Abstract

Cancer therapies are frequently ineffective in irradicating all malignant cells which often results in tumor recurrence. Intricate genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic differences between cancer subpopulations lead to heterogenous neoplasms. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are often resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs and are believed to be the most invasive tumor subpopulation. The latter characteristic arises from their epithelial to mesenchymal transition phenotype. These CSCs are thought to be the cause of tumor recurrence. In the past two decades, researchers have identified several different stemness regulatory pathways and specific surface makers that may be exploited for targeting CSCs. Antagonizing stemness pathways to minimize self-renewal properties is an approach that is extensively researched. However, this technique has its drawbacks since these pathways are often also expressed in healthy cells. A novel technique that is currently in its infancy, might be better suited for specifically targeting CSCs. The use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) which are highly versatile may be used in different applications. AuNPs can be conjugated with antibodies and toxins to target specific cancer subpopulations in heterogenous tumors. Although finding specific surface markers is still a problem with targeting CSCs. However, AuNPs may also be used in photo-thermal therapy (PTT) due to their plasmon resonance and the tumor’s retention properties. Here, AuNPs accumulate over ti

Item Type:	Thesis (Master's Thesis / Essay)
Supervisor name:	Harmsen, M.C.
Degree programme:	Biomedical Sciences
Thesis type:	Master's Thesis / Essay
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2021 08:18
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2021 08:18
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/24716

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