Cancer Stem Cells: Central Players in Tumor Progression and Resistance

Abstract:
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a small yet formidable subpopulation within tumors, endowed with self-renewal capabilities, multi-lineage differentiation, and intrinsic resistance to conventional therapies. These cells are now recognized as the pivotal drivers of tumor initiation, metastasis, relapse, and treatment failure across a wide spectrum of malignancies.

This session explores the emerging paradigm of CSCs as the root cause of cancer persistence and therapeutic resistance. It delves into the molecular pathways that sustain CSCs, including Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, Hedgehog, and epigenetic modulators, offering a deeper understanding of how these signaling axes contribute to tumor heterogeneity and immune evasion.

Participants will also examine the limitations of current treatment strategies that often fail to eradicate CSCs, leading to disease recurrence. Emphasis will be placed on innovative therapeutic avenues targeting CSC niches, metabolism, surface markers, and their plasticity. Additionally, the session discusses promising combinatorial approaches that integrate CSC-targeted therapies with immunotherapy, nanotechnology, and metabolic reprogramming.

Through this lens, the presentation underscores the urgent need to redefine therapeutic strategies, shifting from tumor debulking to CSC eradication for durable cancer control.

Learning Objectives:

·       Understand the biological characteristics and markers of cancer stem cells.

·       Examine the key signaling pathways sustaining CSCs and contributing to therapeutic resistance.

·       Explore current and emerging strategies aimed at selectively targeting CSCs.

·       Assess the clinical implications of CSCs in metastasis, recurrence, and treatment design.

·       Identify future research directions and translational opportunities in CSC-based oncology.