The Significance of Cancer Stem Cells and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Metastasis and Anti-Cancer Therapy.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of biological mechanisms without systematic search methodology or primary data.
PubMed 36768876 · doi:10.3390/ijms24032555
What was done
This narrative review outlines the history, identification markers, and biological properties of cancer stem cells (CSCs) across hematopoietic and solid tumors. It describes the mechanisms of CSC-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) in the metastatic cascade and evaluates novel strategies targeting CSC properties for anti-cancer drug development.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, effect sizes, or sample statistics. It summarizes qualitative biological observations that CSCs maintain quiescence, undergo indefinite self-renewal, drive intravasation and metastasis through EMT/MET, and contribute to therapeutic resistance.
Why it matters
It highlights how targeting the unique molecular and functional properties of CSCs could inform therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance and metastatic spread.
Limits
The abstract provides no primary data, quantitative results, or systematic synthesis methodology. Findings are mechanism-based theoretical descriptions rather than clinical outcomes.
Cited by
- contradicts Stem cell tumors cannot metastasize.