ABSTRACT
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small, biologically unique subset of cancer cells with the ability to self-renew and generate the diverse repertoire of cells that make up the bulk tumor. Nevertheless, the concept of CSCs lying at the apex of the hierarchy is of considerable importance as it highlights the need to eradicate the CSC populations to achieve an effective cure. The evidence for the existence of CSCs came from the study on human acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Therefore, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity and its possible role in driving drug resistance in CSCs deserves in depth study and focus. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying altered DNA damage response and repair pathways are crucial as they correlate significantly with chemoresistance in CSCs. This chapter showes promising targeting of CSCs, including the inhibition of critical CSC self-renewal pathways, targeting drug delivery using specific CSC surface markers, inducing differentiation in CSCs, and the use of immunotherapy against CSCs.
