Abstract
Cancer cells endowed with stemness properties and representing a rare population of cells within malignant lesions have been isolated from tumors with different histological origins. These cells, denominated as cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer initiating cells (CICs), are responsible for tumor initiation, progression and resistance to therapies, including immunotherapy. The dynamic crosstalk of CSCs/CICs with the tumor microenvironment orchestrates their fate and plasticity as well as their immunogenicity. CSCs/CICs, as observed in multiple studies, display either the aberrant expression of immunomodulatory molecules or suboptimal levels of molecules involved in antigen processing and presentation, leading to immune evasion. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) that can regulate either stemness properties or their immunological profile, with in some cases dual functions, can provide insights into these mechanisms and possible interventions to develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs/CICs and reverting their immunogenicity. In this review, we provide an overview of the immunoregulatory features of CSCs/CICs including miRNA profiles involved in the regulation of the interplay between stemness and immunological properties.
Highlights
Tumors are composed of multiple and heterogeneous sub-populations of cells including those endowed with self-renewal and multipotency features, denominated as cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer initiating cells (CICs) [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
The investigations conducted on CSCs/CICs to characterize the molecular and immunological properties of cancer patients have shed light on the various molecules and signaling pathways conferring the properties of CSCs/CICs
The lack of unique markers associated with CSCs/CICs and in vivo models to monitor the interactions of these cells with the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the immune system prevent fully understanding of the mechanisms that promote the stemness features of malignant cells and the tumor dormancy
Summary
Tumors are composed of multiple and heterogeneous sub-populations of cells including those endowed with self-renewal and multipotency features, denominated as cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer initiating cells (CICs) [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Busse et al demonstrated that, even though similar levels of mRNA for HLA and APM molecules were detected in CSCs/CICs and bulk tumor cells, the protein levels were downregulated in cells with stemness properties, suggesting that post-transcriptional mechanisms can lead to suboptimal antigen processing and presentation in these cells [83] This evidence correlates with the data showing that CSCs/CICs failed in eliciting tumor-specific T cell-mediated responses [61]. The development of sophisticated techniques to dissect the cellular and molecular composition of the TME led to gain knowledge of its role in tumor progression and in the responsiveness of cancer patients to immune-based therapy [107,108,109,110,111] These studies contributed to define the hallmarks of cancer immune surveillance and evasion from immune responses [112,113,114] (Figure 1), which are associated with the mechanisms that drive the low immunogenicity. P1r. iPnrciinpcailpmalemcheachnaisnmissmosf oimf immumnueneeveavsaiosniobnybCy SCCSsC/sC/CICICs.s.TThheeimimmmuunnoommoodduullaattoorryymmeecchhaanniissmmss bbyy CCSSCCss//CCIICCss andmantudhlettihpcerleocssrsiogtsanslatkalilwnkgiwtphiathtthhtewheTayMTsMEleEtahdthasatttoleletahadedtitonoeifimmficppiaeainirrteerddecTTogcceenllillt--immoneedadiniaadtteeaddttrarecesksppooofnnCsesSesCsasra/eCrerIeCrvesivebiwyeweimde.mdT.uhTneheaesbyeasrbtreearmnrta. eAnxtmperoxenpsgsrietoshnseisooefn of mpautlhtwipaleyssiagrne:a(l1in) gthpeastuhbwopaytismlaelaedxsptroestshieoninoefffiHcLieAnmt roelceocgunleistiaonndaAndPMat,taasckwoefllCasSCofsc/oC-sItCims buylaitmormy munoelescyusletesmth.aAt cmauosneg thetsheepinatahbwiliatyysoaf rTe:ce(1ll)stthoerseucobgonpitziemaanldexkpilrletshseioCnSoCfsH/CLICAsmanodletchueliersinanefdficAiePnMt s,taims wulealtlioans loefadcoin-sgtitmo uthlaetiroraynemrgoilce/cduylse-s thaftucnacutisoentahl estiantaubs;il(i2ty) tohfeTucperlelgsutloatrieocnogofnitzhee aimndmkuinlletchheeCckSpCosin/tCs,ICsuscahnads tPhDei-r1/iPnDef-fiLc1ieanntdstBim7-Hul3ataionnd ltehaedtirnygpttoopthhaenir anecragtaicb/odliysmsfubnyctIiDonOalthsatat tluesa;d(2to) tihmepuapirrmegeunltaotifoenffoefctohreTimcemllurneespcohnescekspaonindtst,hseudcihffaesrePnDtia-1ti/oPnDo-fLi1mamnudnBe7s-uHp3parensdsitvhee tryipmtompuhnaenccealltsab(Torleisgms) banydIDdyOsftuhnacttiloenadal tToliymmppahiormcyetnest);o(f3e)ftfheecteoxrpTrecsseilol nreosfppornos-einsfalanmdmthaetodryiffceyrteonktiinaetsio(ne.go.f, IimL-m6, uILn-e sup8p, rIeLs-s1i0veanimdmILu-n1e3)cealnlsd(cThreegmso) kainndesdythsafut ndcrtiivoensalthTelydmiffpehreonctyiatetiso);n(3o)ftihmemexupnreescseilolsn toofwparord-insfluapmprmesastiovreyscuybttoykpineses(e(e.g.g.,., IL-Tf6u,rneILgcts-i8,o,MnIsL2a-m1n0dacairnnodpuhIpLa-mg-1eo3sd), MuanlDadtSincChgsetamhneodnkieiDngCeastSit)v;heaanrteddgr(u4ilv)aeItFsoNrthI-Deγ Ocdai.nfMfeprolearnyeotaivadetiruo,anTlGoeffFfeβimc-1tmiinnumntheeedcTieaMltlisnEtgocwbanoatrahdlsthosuerpeagnputriel-astutseimvtheoersueefxbfpetycrteposer-s (e.gs.i,oTnroegf IsD, MO.2AmPaMcr, oapnthigagenesp,rMocDesSsCinsgamndacihDinCeSr)y;;aCnSdC(/4C)IICF,Nca-nγccearnstpemlaycealld/cuaanlceerffiencittiiantimngecdeilalt;iHngLAbo, hthumthaenalneutik-toucmytoer effeacnttoigr efnu;nicDtiCo:nismamnadtuinreuapn-dmtoodleurloagtienngictdheenndergitaicticveellrse;gIDulOat,oInrdIDolOea.mMinoere2o,3v-edr,ioTxGyFgβen-1asine; tIhFeNT, iMntEercfaernoanl;sIoL-r4e,gIunltaetreletuh-e expkriens4si;oInL-o6f, InDtOer.leAuPkMin,6a;nILti-g1e0n, Ipnrtoercleesuskining1m0;aIcLh-i1n3e,rIyn;teCrSleCu/kCinIC13, ;cManDceSrCs,tmemyecloeildl/dcaernicveerdinsuitpiaptriensgsocrelcle; lHl; LMA2, mhuamcroa-n leupkhoacygtees:ainmtimgeunn;oimDCod: iumlamtoartyu/rseupanpdretsosilvereomgeancircodphenagdersit;icPDce-l1ls, ;pIrDoOgr,aImndmoeledacmelilndee2a,3th- d1;ioPxDy-gLe1n,apsreo; gIFraNm, minetedrfceerlolnd;eIaLt-h4, Intelirglaenudki1n; 4T;MILE-,6t,uImntoerrlmeuickrionen6;vIiLro-1n0m, eInntte; rTlreeugk, iTnr1e0g;uIlLa-t1o3r,yIcnetlelrsl.eukin 13; MDSC, myeloid derived suppressor cell; M2 macrophages: immunomodulatory/suppressive macrophages; PD-1, programmed cell death 1; PD-L1, programmed cell death ligand 1; TME, tumor microenvironment; Treg, T regulatory cells
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
