Cancer Stem Cells

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of cells within tumors with the ability to self-renew and generate diverse cancer cell types. These cells are often resistant to standard therapies, contributing to tumor regrowth, recurrence, and metastasis. Drugs like Salinomycin, XAV-939, and Curcumin target pathways crucial for CSC survival, such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, and Hedgehog signaling. By focusing on these pathways, CSC-targeted therapies aim to eliminate the cells that fuel cancer’s return. Because CSCs can drive treatment resistance, targeting them has become a key research priority. Disrupting the signaling pathways that maintain CSCs offers a promising strategy for more durable and effective treatments. As CSC research progresses, it holds the potential to create therapies that not only shrink tumors but also reduce the likelihood of relapse, offering patients a greater chance at long-term remission and improved outcomes across a range of cancer types.