| Immune Evasion Mechanism of Cancer Stem Cells and Their Role in Therapy |
| Paper ID : 1221-IGA |
| Authors |
|
Piruz Shadbash *1, Marziye Bahari Babadi2 1Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences 2Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Background and Aim: Cancer Stem Cells are a rare subpopulation of tumor cells with self-renewal and differentiation capabilities. They are associated with tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and resistance to conventional therapies. One of the hallmarks of CSCs is their ability to evade immune surveillance, contributing to disease progression and relapse. Our aim in this study was to investigate how cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment. We also explored emerging therapeutic strategies that target these mechanisms to improve cancer disease. Methods: We conducted a literature search using keywords such as cancer stem cells, immune evasion, tumor microenvironment, immune checkpoints, therapy resistance, and immunotherapy across databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Relevant studies were selected based on clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The chosen articles were evaluated by reviewing their titles, abstracts, methodologies, and results. The key findings from these studies are summarized in this review. Results: This review highlights the multiple mechanisms by which CSCs escape immune detection, including suppression of antigen presentation, overexpression of immune checkpoint molecules, secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines, recruitment of regulatory immune cells, and induction of immune cell apoptosis. Additionally, we discuss emerging strategies for targeting CSC-mediated immune evasion, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, CSC-directed immunotherapies, modulation of the tumor microenvironment, and adoptive cell therapy. A deeper understanding of these immune escape pathways is crucial for developing effective therapeutic approaches that can improve patient outcomes. Conclusion: Targeting CSC-mediated immune escape pathways could revolutionize cancer treatment. Future research could focus on identifying and optimizing immunotherapy approaches to increase the effectiveness of cancer treatment approaches. |
| Keywords |
| Cancer Stem cells, immune evasion, tumor microenvironment, immune checkpoints, therapy resistance, immunotherapy |
| Status: Accepted |
