Targeting breast cancer stem cells: mechanisms of resistance and emerging therapeutic strategies

Akeleya, Ammar (2025) Targeting breast cancer stem cells: mechanisms of resistance and emerging therapeutic strategies. Pre-master Essay, Biomedical Sciences.

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Abstract

One of the primary causes of cancer-related death for women is breast cancer, and two of the biggest obstacles to treatment are tumor recurrence and resistance to traditional treatments. One of the main causes of these results is the existence of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), a subpopulation of tumor cells that have traits similar to those of tissue stem cells, including the potential to self-renew, differentiate, and resistance to therapy. BCSCs, which are recognised by markers such ALDH1 and CD44+/CD24−, are linked to the development, spread, and recurrence of tumors. The aim of the research is to investigate the contribution of breast cancer stem cells to tumor recurrence and resistance to conventional therapies, and to evaluate emerging therapeutic strategies designed to specifically target these cells to enhance treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. Through the utilisation of strategies including drug efflux, improved DNA repair mechanisms, quiescence, and the ability to resist apoptosis, BCSCs successfully circumvent standard therapies. Moreover, their participation in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the activation of essential signaling pathways Notch, Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog, and TGF-β further enhances metastasis and resistance to treatment. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies (such as anti-CD44 or anti-EpCAM), pathway-specific inhibitors, and CAR T-cell treatments that target CD133 are examples of promising therapeutic strategies

Item Type:	Thesis (Pre-master Essay)
Supervisor name:	Coppes, R.P.
Degree programme:	Biomedical Sciences
Thesis type:	Pre-master Essay
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	08 Jul 2025 10:54
Last Modified:	08 Jul 2025 10:54
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/35954

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