Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells which exhibit increased tumorigenicity and therapeutic resistance. Consequently, even low levels of these cells can lead to worse prognosis for patients through relapse and metastasis. Numerous biomarkers for these CSCs have been identified ranging from enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins to physiological conditions. However, it remains a challenge to study these cells in living systems because few imaging tools exist. We aim to exploit CSC-specific enzymatic activities to develop a series of probes to better study CSCs in living systems, the first step towards therapeutic development. Early progress has demonstrated a probe that is selective for the CSCs in numerous assays including flow cytometry, tumor sphere imaging, and live mouse imaging.

Targeting cancer stem cells with molecular imaging probes

255th National Meeting (2018)

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