Раковая наука и терапия

Ovarian Cancer Recurrence: Role of Ovarian Stem Cells and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

Abstract

Ricci F, Guffanti F and Damia G

Despite the remarkable progress made in delineating the pathogenesis of ovarian tumor during the last two decades, the 5 years survival of these patients is very low, with 80% of them succumbing to their resistant disease. Understanding the key determinants of this resistance is of paramount importance if the prognosis of this tumor has to be improved. Here are summarized the role of cancer stem cells and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in determining tumor recurrence in ovarian cancer. Indeed, the existence, and more importantly the acquisition of stem-cell traits by tumor cells both during tumor progression and during treatment might explain the ability of these cells to give rise to tumor recurrence and to be resistant to treatment.