J Gynecol Oncol.  2018 Mar;29(2):e32. 10.3802/jgo.2018.29.e32.

Chemoresistance in ovarian cancer: exploiting cancer stem cell metabolism

• Li SS
• Ma J
• Wong AS

• KMID: 2404022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3802/jgo.2018.29.e32

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is most deadly gynecologic malignancies worldwide. Chemotherapy is the mainstay treatment for ovarian cancer. Despite the initial response is promising, frequent recurrence in patients with advanced diseases remains a therapeutic challenge. Thus, understanding the biology of chemoresistance is of great importance to overcome this challenge and will conceivably benefit the survival of ovarian cancer patients. Although mechanisms underlying the development of chemoresistance are still ambiguous, accumulating evidence has supported an integral role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in recurrence following chemotherapy. Recently, tumor metabolism has gained interest as a reason of chemoresistance in tumors and chemotherapeutic drugs in combination with metabolism targeting approaches has been found promising in overcoming therapeutic resistance. In this review, we will summarize recent studies on CSCs and metabolism in ovarian cancer and discuss possible role of CSCs metabolism in chemoresistance.

Keyword

Ovarian Neoplasms; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Cancer Stem Cells; Metabolism

MeSH Terms

Biology
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
Drug Therapy
Humans
Metabolism*
Neoplastic Stem Cells*
Ovarian Neoplasms*
Recurrence