Cancer Stem Cells in Sarcomas: In Vitro Isolation and Role as Prognostic Markers: A Systematic Review

Sarcomas are a diverse group of neoplasms with an incidence rate of 15% of childhood cancers. They exhibit a high tendency to develop early metastases and are often resistant to available treatments, resulting in poor prognosis and survival. In this context, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been implicated in recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance, making the search for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of the disease crucial. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the expression of CSC biomarkers both after isolation from in vitro cell lines and from the complete cell population of patient tumor samples. A total of 228 publications from January 2011 to June 2021 was retrieved from different databases, of which 35 articles were included for analysis. The studies demonstrated significant heterogeneity in both the markers detected and the CSC isolation techniques used. ALDH was identified as a common marker in various types of sarcomas. In conclusion, the identification of CSC markers in sarcomas may facilitate the development of personalized medicine and improve treatment outcomes.

Automated summary

Sarcomas are a diverse group of neoplasms with a high incidence rate in childhood cancers. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a role in recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance, making the search for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers crucial. This systematic review analyzed the expression of CSC biomarkers in in vitro cell lines and patient tumor samples, revealing significant heterogeneity in markers and isolation techniques. ALDH was identified as a common marker in various types of sarcomas. The identification of CSC markers in sarcomas may aid in personalized medicine development and improve treatment outcomes.