Regulating stem cell-related genes induces the plastic differentiation of cancer stem cells to treat cancer [in vitro]

Relapse of cancer is associated with multi-directional differentiation, and unrestricted proliferative replication potential of cancer stem cells. Herein, we propose the plastic differentiation strategy for irreversible differentiation of cancer stem cells. Whole gene expression analysis revealed that salinomycin induced the cancer stem cells into normal cells, dormant cells, and mature cancer cells. Besides, the results indicated that the gatekeeper was related to the inhibition of PKC α signaling pathway. The differentiated normal or dormant cells were incorporated into normal tissue, while the rest were killed by chemotherapy. Our findings would offer the evidence for plastic differentiation of cancer stem cells, and propose an invert strategy for cancer therapy. 3 samples