The Role of Cancer Stem Cells and Their Extracellular Vesicles in the Modulation of the Antitumor Immunity

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a population of tumor cells that share similar properties to normal stem cells. CSCs are able to promote tumor progression and recurrence due to their resistance to chemotherapy and ability to stimulate angiogenesis and differentiate into non-CSCs. Cancer stem cells can also create a significant immunosuppressive environment around themselves by suppressing the activity of effector immune cells and recruiting cells that support tumor escape from immune response. The immunosuppressive effect of CSCs can be mediated by receptors located on their surface, as well as by secreted molecules, which transfer immunosuppressive signals to the cells of tumor microenvironment. In this article, the ability of CSCs to regulate the antitumor immune response and a contribution of CSC-derived EVs into the avoidance of the immune response are discussed.

Automated summary

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have properties similar to normal stem cells and can promote tumor progression and recurrence by resisting chemotherapy, stimulating angiogenesis, and differentiating into non-CSCs. CSCs create an immunosuppressive environment by suppressing effector immune cell activity and recruiting cells that help tumors escape immune responses. This immunosuppressive effect is mediated by receptors on the surface of CSCs and secreted molecules that transfer immunosuppressive signals to the tumor microenvironment cells.