Tumor cellular heterogeneity presents a formidable challenge to the development of effective cancer therapeutics. In addition to well-studied genetic heterogeneity resulting from mutation and clonal selection, there is mounting evidence for a fundamental role of epigenetic heterogeneity in mediating therapeutic resistance. Epigenetic mechanisms regulating cellular differentiation generate hierarchically organized cellular clones within tumors. At the apex of these hierarchies are cancer stem cells (CSCs) which drive tumor growth and metastasis. CSCs are endowed with phenotypic plasticity enabling them to transition between mesenchymal and epithelial-like states, processes regulated by the tumor microenvironment. CSCs also display intrinsic resistance to cytotoxic agents and radiation therapy and also may be resistant to molecularly targeted therapies aimed at bulk tumor populations. CSC heterogeneity, plasticity, and therapeutic resistance have profound implications for development of effective cancer therapies. Over the past decade, our laboratory has identified markers for CSCs in breast cancer, as well as other tumor types and developed in vitro and mouse models that have facilitated isolation and characterization of these cells. We have identified a number of cell intrinsic and microenvironmentally driven pathways that regulate these cells facilitating development of CSC-targeting drugs, a number of which have now entered clinical trials. We propose to extend these studies by applying single-cell genomic and proteomic technologies to characterize CSC heterogeneity at single-cell resolution. We will develop novel technologies to capture and molecularly interrogate circulating CSCs in molecularly annotated PDX models, as well as in primary patient blood samples. These technologies will facilitate more precise selection of agents to target CSCs, as well as facilitating real time assessment of therapeutic efficacy for patients on CTC targeting clinical trials. The successful targeting of CSCs has the potential to significantly improve the outcomes of patients with breast cancer, as well as other malignancies.
There is substantial evidence that many cancers, including breast cancer, are driven by a population of cells that display stem cell properties. These cells mediate tumor metastasis and contribute to therapeutic resistance. We have elucidated pathways which regulate breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and developed strategies to target these cells, several of which have now entered clinical trials. We propose to develop novel methodologies to isolate and molecularly analyze BCSCs from the blood of patients on clinical trials. The development of strategies to effectively target BCSCs has the potential to significantl improve the outcomes for patients with breast cancer.
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