Cancer stem cells are thought to be resistant to anticancer therapies and are able to repopulate tumors and sustain tumor growth. The authors establish BMI-1 as a crucial regulator of cancer cell stemness in colorectal tumors and develop a chemical inhibitor that targets cancer stem cell renewal by reducing the levels of BMI-1. This strategy affords antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo and may pave the way for the precise targeting of elusive cancer stem cells.
- Antonija Kreso
- Peter van Galen
- Catherine A O'Brien