Department of Thoracic Oncology, Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Cancer Genomics Proteomics. 2012 Sep-Oct;9(5):275-86.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death in Western countries. Despite novel molecular therapies, the majority of patients with advanced or metastatic disease show rapid progression and a median survival time of not more than 18 months. In the last decade, there has been increasing evidence that cancer stem cells (CSC) play a pivotal role in drug resistance, tumour regeneration and metastasis of various cancer entities including lung cancer. In this review, we discuss the evidence for stem cells in NSCLC, their predictive and prognostic significance, their specific mechanisms of resistance and potential targets and strategies for eradication of these cells. Consideration of the specific properties of CSC in lung cancer therapy might substantially contribute to increased response and prolonged survival rates in this disease.
非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）是西方国家癌症相关死亡的主要原因。尽管有新的分子疗法，但大多数晚期或转移性疾病患者的病情迅速恶化，中位生存时间不超过 18 个月。在过去的十年中，越来越多的证据表明，癌症干细胞（CSC）在各种癌症实体包括肺癌的药物耐药性、肿瘤再生和转移中发挥着关键作用。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了 NSCLC 中干细胞的证据，它们的预测和预后意义，它们的耐药特定机制，以及针对这些细胞的潜在靶点和清除策略。考虑到 CSC 在肺癌治疗中的特定特性，可能会极大地提高该疾病的反应率和生存率。
