Targeting the root of cancer relapse

Abstract

Hypermalignant cancer cells, or cancer stem cells (CSCs), have been identified in a range of different types of cancer. CSCs have a high potential to metastasize and, owing to their resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy, they often cause relapse after treatment. Now, reporting in Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, Li et al. show that the small molecule BBI608, an inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), is active against CSCs and blocks cancer metastasis and relapse in animal models. CSCs