Heating cancer stem cells to reduce tumor relapse
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* Corresponding author: Pier G Pelicci piergiuseppe.pelicci@ifom-ieo-campus.it
European Institute of Oncology, Department of Experimental Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
Breast Cancer Research 2011, 13:305 doi:10.1186/bcr2847
Published: 6 May 2011Abstract
Tumour relapse is believed to be caused by rare cancer-cells with stem-cell properties (cancer stem cells) that are intrinsically resistant to available treatments. The identification of novel strategies to increase their sensitivity has major clinical implications. Latest clinical trials have shown a positive antitumoral effect of hyperthermia in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In a recent paper, the combination of increased temperature at the tumour site, generated by laser treatment of intravenously-injected gold nanoshells, and ionizing radiations enhances radiosensitivity of cancer stem cells and tumor response. At the root of the success of hyperthermia in enhancing radio-sensitization of cancer stem cells is the inhibition of their capacity to repair DNA damage, affecting the survival rate of these cells.