full free access: Human Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells -- Bapat, 10.1530/REP-09-0389 -- Reproduction

In research - selected notes:

Stem cells exist in ovarian tumors.

* Ovarian cancer stem cell biology has unfortunately, not benefited from a pre-established knowledge of stem cell lineage demarcation and functioning in the normal organ.
* The present review presents an outline of the various approaches developed so far and the various perspectives revealed that are now required to be dealt with towards
better disease management.
* Over the last few years, several studies have focused on the isolation, identification and characterization of stem cells from normal ovarian tissue as well as
tumor samples.
* Ovarian cancer appears to represent a group of distinct diseases rather than being a single entity. (Stromal /Germ Cell/Epithelial and subtypes)
* Current research focuses on appropriating distinct ‘molecular signatures’ with each type of EOC towards the identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers that could improve the quality of life for patients and provide better therapeutic options.
* Several uncertainties however, remain in understanding the biological and clinical consequences of CSCs (cancer stem cells): Which are the real precursors of EOC?; What are the molecular pathways that are disrupted in ovarian carcinogenesis? (An example in point is a recent study that reports the stem cell marker ALDH1 as being a
favorable prognostic factor in ovarian cancer patients; contrarily it is associated with poor patient prognosis in breast cancer); Do we need CSC surface markers or CSC biomarkers?


In conclusion, the current findings initiate an understanding of CSCs in ovarian cancer and further underscore an important need for further evaluation of their origins and
mechanisms of survival. Continuing efforts along divergent lines to elucidate the existence, association and contribution of these cells is necessary to ultimately make the
promise of specific targeting of these cells in cancer therapy a reality.