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Journal of Ovarian Research Attributes of Oct4 in stem cell biology: perspectives on cancer stem cells of the ovary
Review
Published: 21 November 2012
Abstract (provisional)
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains the most lethal of all the gynaecological
malignancies with drug resistance and recurrence remaining the major therapeutic barrier
in the management of the disease. Although several studies have been undertaken to
understand the mechanisms responsible for chemoresistance and subsequent recurrence
in EOC, the exact mechanisms associated with chemoresistance/recurrence continue to
remain elusive. Recent studies have shown that the parallel characteristics commonly
seen between embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)
are also shared by a relatively rare population of cells within tumors that display
stem cell-like features. These cells, termed 'cancer initiating cells' or 'cancer
stem cells (CSCs)' have been shown not only to display increased self renewal and
pluripotent abilities as seen in ESCs and iPSCs, but are also highly tumorigenic in
in vivo mouse models. Additionally, these CSCs have been implicated in tumor recurrence
and chemoresistance, and when isolated have consistently shown to express the master
pluripotency and embryonic stem cell regulating gene Oct4. This article reviews the
involvement of Oct4 in cancer progression and chemoresistance, with emphasis on ovarian
cancer. Overall, we highlight why ovarian cancer patients, who initially respond to
conventional chemotherapy subsequently relapse with recurrent chemoresistant disease
that is essentially incurable.
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