Development of Anti-Cancer Stem Cells as Theranostic Agents in the Treatment of Different Cancer Types: An Update

Various unprecedented anti-tumor potential targets that robustly target cancer cells while sparing normal cells have been produced by biomedical research in cancer therapeutic intervention for interrupting disease progression and their cure. Stem cells characterize an accessible cell source for novel cell based clinical therapies by inhibiting tumor progression signalling pathways. They carry distinctive characteristics of isolation and migration to tissue inflammation site, inherited modifiability and protein expression. Stem cells are also used in immune-reconstitution and tissue regeneration. Implication of different types of stem cells as an attractive candidate for targeted delivery of anti-neoplastic agents has emerged as a promising field in anticancer therapy. Mutual interaction between cancer cells and stem cells results in effective and safer clinical therapy for tumors. Keeping in view, this review highlights the potential role of stem cells in the progression of tumor metastasis and also summarizes the role of different signaling pathways in carcinogenesis and their involvement in disease treatment. It also focuses on the current advances in stem cells practice in therapeutics of cancer.