Objective To analyze the advances of cancer stem cell (CSC) in recent years, and to propose a prospect for CSC research and cancer therapy. Methods Articles about important advances of CSC theory and cancer therapy were reviewed, and then selected and summarized. Results In 2001, CSC was first put forward as a concept, till now, which has been confirmed in many tissues. In recent years, efforts were dedicated to such topics including: identification of CSC in sol id tumors, the origin of CSC, its niche and growth mechanism, cancer therapy, etc. According to the CSC theory, traditional therapeutic methods have deficiencies, and new treatment targeting CSC may thoroughly el iminate tumors. Conclusion At present, CSC theory is still controversial, while it proposed revolutionary methods and directions for the therapy of cancer.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Due to the high heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment, conventional therapeutic approaches face formidable challenges, including suboptimal efficacy and multidrug resistance. Nanozymes, particularly transition-metal bimetallic nanozymes, have become a research hotspot in the field of antitumor nanomaterials, owing to the unique electronic structures of transition metals and synergistic catalytic mechanisms between the bimetallic components. This review systematically summarizes the types of enzyme-like activities of transition-metal bimetallic nanozymes, the construction strategies for multi-enzyme cascade reactions, and their applications in antitumor therapy. It further summarizes the current challenges of these nanozymes and provides an outlook on their future directions. This review aims to provide a theoretical foundation for promoting the clinical translation of transition-metal bimetallic nanozymes in antitumor therapy.
