A Niche-Based Perspective to Stem and Cancer Stem Cells of the Lung


Boyacıoğlu Ö., Kalali B. D., Tongün E., KORKUSUZ P.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology, cilt.1488, ss.21-47, 2025 (Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
  • Cilt numarası: 1488
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/5584_2025_858
  • Dergi Adı: Advances in experimental medicine and biology
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, EMBASE
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.21-47
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Cancer stem cell, Lung stem cell, Stem cell niche, Tumor microenvironment
  • Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Lungs carry the principle function for the conduction and exchange of air through the primary, secondary, tertiary bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli, resulting in the exchange of oxygen to carbon dioxide within the human tissues. Lung stem and progenitor cells enable differentiation of parenchymal and stromal elements and provide homeostasis and regeneration in the microenvironment against pulmonary diseases. Tumor-initiating cancer cells (TICs) refer to a subpopulation named as cancer stem cells (CSCs) of lung cancer exhibiting high self-renewal and proliferation capacity by Notch, Hippo, Hedgehog, and Wnt signaling pathways that leads to tumor development or recurrence. Lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs) are characterized by distinct genotypic or phenotypic alterations compared to healthy lung stem cells (LSCs) that provide a potential target to treat lung cancer. Therefore, understanding the cascades responsible for the transformation of healthy to CSCs is essential to develop new targeted therapy approaches. In this chapter, we precisely highlight the latest researches on LSCs and CSCs, key signaling mechanisms within the perspective of novel targeted therapy strategies.