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Neurotrophin signaling in cancer stem cells

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Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), are thought to be at the origin of tumor development and resistance to therapies. Thus, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the control of CSC stemness is essential to the design of more effective therapies for cancer patients. Cancer cell stemness and the subsequent expansion of CSCs are regulated by micro-environmental signals including neurotrophins. Over the years, the roles of neurotrophins in tumor development have been well established and regularly reviewed. Especially, nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are reported to stimulate tumor cell proliferation, survival, migration and/or invasion, and favors tumor angiogenesis. More recently, neurotrophins have been reported to regulate CSCs. This review briefly presents neurotrophins and their receptors, summarizes their roles in different cancers, and discusses the emerging evidence of neurotrophins-induced enrichment of CSCs as well as the involved signaling pathways.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CPAC, Cell Plasticity and Cancer, Univ. Lille, INSERM U908, F-59 000, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France

    Valérie Chopin, Chann Lagadec, Robert-Alain Toillon & Xuefen Le Bourhis

  2. University of Picardie Jules Verne, 80000, Amiens, France

    Valérie Chopin

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  1. Valérie Chopin
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  2. Chann Lagadec
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  3. Robert-Alain Toillon
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  4. Xuefen Le Bourhis
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Correspondence to Xuefen Le Bourhis.

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This research was supported by the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), the University of Lille, the Institut National du Cancer (ARC_INCa_LNCC_8068) and the SIRIC ONCOLille.

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Chopin, V., Lagadec, C., Toillon, RA. et al. Neurotrophin signaling in cancer stem cells. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 73, 1859–1870 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-016-2156-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-016-2156-7

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