Destroying cancer stem cells or stem-like cancer cells offers exciting possibilities for eliminating tumors. Medications can wipe out the population of self-renewing cancer cells and have the potential to dramatically reduce tumor activity. The following medications and supplements show promising results in killing cancer stem cells.
(OPy)(2)Ti(4AP)(2)
15-deoxy-Δ(12,14)-ProstaglandinJ(2)
3-Deazaneplanocin A
3-O-methylfunicone
4-hydroxy-2-nonenal
9cUAB130
Acetaminophen
Adeno-ANT2 shRNA virus
ALDH1A1-specific CD8(+) T cells
All-trans retinoic acid
Andrographolide
Antrodia camphorata
Azacitidine
AZD7762
BikDD
BMP-2
BMP-4
BMP-7
BMP2/7 heterodimer
BMS-214662
Bortezomib
Carboplatin
CD133 monoclonal antibody carbon nanotubes
Celastrol
Celecoxib
Cetuximab
Ciglitazone
Cilengitide
Cisplatin
CITCO
Clostridium perfringens
Compound Kushen Injection
Connexin 43
Cord blood stem cells
Crambe crambe extract
Cucurbitacin I
Curcumin
Cyclopamine
Dacarbazine
Daunorubicin and quinacrine liposomes
dCD133KDEL
Decitabine
Delta-24-RGD
Dichloroacetate
Dimethylamino-parthenolide
Echinomycin
Eckol
EGCG analogs
EpCAMxCD3
Figitumumab
FTY720
Galiellalactone
Gamma-tocotrienol
Gammadelta T lymphocytes
Gefitinib
Gemcitabine
Genistein
GLPG0187
GO-Y030
Gold nanoshells
HPMA and N-methacryloylglycylphenylalanylleucylglycyl thiazolidine-2-thione
Hydroxycamptothecin
Icaritin
Imetelstat
Indomethacin
Inducible caspase-9
Interleukin-12
Interleukin-15
Lidamycin
LY2109761
Metformin
MicroRNA-199a
MRK-003
MRx102
MT110
Mullerian inhibiting substance
N-t-boc-Daidzein
Nanoparticle photothermal therapy
Natural killer cells
Niclosamide
Nimotuzumab
Nordy
NV-128
Octreotide modified paclitaxel active targeting micelles
Omacetaxine
Oxaliplatin-incorporated micelles
Oxymatrine
Palladium
Parthenolide
PD184352
PG11047
PI-103
Piperine
PKF118-310
Platinum
Poly(β-amino ester) nanoparticles
Pomegranate extract
Proteasome inhibitors
PSP
PU-PEI-miR145
Quercetin
Rakicidin A
Rapamycin
Resveratrol
Rituximab
RNA interference of EZH2 and Oct4
Salinomycin
Siomycin A
Sodium butyrate
Sorafenib
Sulforaphane
Sulindac
SVV-001
T-cell factor 3
TDZD-8
Telomestatin
Temozolomide
Thioridazine
Tigatuzumab
Tigecycline
TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand
Trastuzumab
Vismodegib
WP1193
γ-secretase inhibitor
Δ12-prostaglandin J3
References:
3-Deazaneplanocin A is a promising therapeutic agent for the eradication of tumor-initiating hepatocellular carcinoma cells. (Link)
3-O-methylfunicone, from Penicillium pinophilum, is a selective inhibitor of breast cancer stem cells. (Link)
7-(O)-Carboxymethyl daidzein conjugated to N-t-Boc-hexylenediamine: a novel compound capable of inducing cell death in epithelial ovarian cancer stem cells. (Link)
A combination of DR5 agonistic monoclonal antibody with gemcitabine targets pancreatic cancer stem cells and results in long-term disease control in human pancreatic cancer model. (Link)
A polymeric nanoparticle formulation of curcumin inhibits growth, clonogenicity and stem-like fraction in malignant brain tumors. (Link)
A single intravenous injection of oncolytic picornavirus SVV-001 eliminates medulloblastomas in primary tumor-based orthotopic xenograft mouse models. (Link)
Acetaminophen-induced differentiation of human breast cancer stem cells and inhibition of tumor xenograft growth in mice. (Link)
Adenovirus adenine nucleotide translocator-2 shRNA effectively induces apoptosis and enhances chemosensitivity by the down-regulation of ABCG2 in breast cancer stem-like cells. (Link)
All-trans retinoic acid modulates cancer stem cells of glioblastoma multiforme in an MAPK-dependent manner. (Link)
All-trans retinoic acid stealth liposomes prevent the relapse of breast cancer arising from the cancer stem cells. (Link)
An anticancer agent icaritin induces sustained activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway and inhibits growth of breast cancer cells. (Link)
An inhibitor of arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase, Nordy, induces differentiation and inhibits self-renewal of glioma stem-like cells. (Link)
An orally bioavailable parthenolide analog selectively eradicates acute myelogenous leukemia stem and progenitor cells. (Link)
Antineoplastic mechanisms of niclosamide in acute myelogenous leukemia stem cells: inactivation of the NF-kappaB pathway and generation of reactive oxygen species. (Link)
Antiproliferative effect of novel platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes on hepatic tumor stem cells in vitro. (Link)
Arsenic disulfide synergizes with the phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor PI-103 to eradicate acute myeloid leukemia stem cells by inducing differentiation. (Link)
Autophagy interplay with apoptosis and cell cycle regulation in the growth inhibiting effect of resveratrol in glioma cells. (Link)
BikDD eliminates breast cancer initiating cells and synergizes with lapatinib for breast cancer treatment. (Link)
Blockade of TGF-β signaling by the TGFβR-I kinase inhibitor LY2109761 enhances radiation response and prolongs survival in glioblastoma. (Link)
BMP-2 inhibits the tumorigenicity of cancer stem cells in human osteosarcoma OS99-1 cell line. (Link)
BMS-214662 induces mitochondrial apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) stem/progenitor cells, including CD34+38- cells, through activation of protein kinase Cbeta. (Link)
Bone morphogenetic protein 4 induces differentiation of colorectal cancer stem cells and increases their response to chemotherapy in mice. (Link)
Bone morphogenetic protein 4 inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in glioma stem cells. (Link)
Bone morphogenetic protein-7 release from endogenous neural precursor cells suppresses the tumourigenicity of stem-like glioblastoma cells. (Link)
Bortezomib primes glioblastoma, including glioblastoma stem cells, for TRAIL by increasing tBid stability and mitochondrial apoptosis. (Link)
Celecoxib enhances radiosensitivity in medulloblastoma-derived CD133-positive cells. (Link)
Chemoprevention by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs eliminates oncogenic intestinal stem cells via SMAC-dependent apoptosis. (Link)
Chemopreventive effect of PSP through targeting of prostate cancer stem cell-like population. (Link)
Cilengitide induces autophagy-mediated cell death in glioma cells. (Link)
Cisplatin and TRAIL enhance breast cancer stem cell death. (Link)
Cisplatin restores TRAIL apoptotic pathway in glioblastoma-derived stem cells through up-regulation of DR5 and down-regulation of c-FLIP. (Link)
Combination of salinomycin and gemcitabine eliminates pancreatic cancer cells. (Link)
Combined targeted treatment to eliminate tumorigenic cancer stem cells in human pancreatic cancer. (Link)
Compound Kushen Injection suppresses human breast cancer stem-like cells by down-regulating the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. (Link)
Connexin 43 reverses malignant phenotypes of glioma stem cells by modulating E-cadherin. (Link)
Constitutive androstane receptor agonist CITCO inhibits growth and expansion of brain tumour stem cells. (Link)
Cord blood stem cells revert glioma stem cell EMT by down regulating transcriptional activation of Sox2 and Twist1. (Link)
Cucurbitacin I inhibits tumorigenic ability and enhances radiochemosensitivity in nonsmall cell lung cancer-derived CD133-positive cells. (Link)
Cucurbitacin I suppressed stem-like property and enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis in head and neck squamous carcinoma–derived CD44(+)ALDH1(+) cells. (Link)
Curcumin promotes differentiation of glioma-initiating cells by inducing autophagy. (Link)
Cyclopamine reverts acquired chemoresistance and down-regulates cancer stem cell markers in pancreatic cancer cell lines. (Link)
Cytotoxic activity of the titanium alkoxide (OPy)(2)Ti(4AP)(2) against cancer colony forming cells. (Link)
Dietary polyphenol quercetin targets pancreatic cancer stem cells. (Link)
Differentiation therapy: targeting human renal cancer stem cells with interleukin 15. (Link)
Differentiation-inducing activity of hydroxycamptothecin on cancer stem-like cells derived from hepatocellular carcinoma. (Link)
Discovery of agents that eradicate leukemia stem cells using an in silico screen of public gene expression data. (Link)
Dose-dependent proteomic analysis of glioblastoma cancer stem cells upon treatment with γ-secretase inhibitor. (Link)
Eckol suppresses maintenance of stemness and malignancies in glioma stem-like cells. (Link)
Effect of bone morphogenetic protein 4 on glioma stem cell proliferation and apoptosis in vitro. (Link)
Effects of salinomycin on cancer stem cell in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. (Link)
Efficient killing of human colon cancer stem cells by gammadelta T lymphocytes. (Link)
EpCAM/CD3-Bispecific T-cell engaging antibody MT110 eliminates primary human pancreatic cancer stem cells. (Link)
Eradication of chemotherapy-resistant CD44+ human ovarian cancer stem cells in mice by intraperitoneal administration of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin. (Link)
Evaluation of radiotherapy effect in resveratrol-treated medulloblastoma cancer stem-like cells. (Link)
Galiellalactone inhibits stem cell-like ALDH-positive prostate cancer cells. (Link)
Gamma-secretase inhibitors target tumor-initiating cells in a mouse model of ERBB2 breast cancer. (Link)
Gamma-tocotrienol as an effective agent in targeting prostate cancer stem cell-like population. (Link)
Gefitinib radiosensitizes stem-like glioma cells: inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor-Akt-DNA-PK signaling, accompanied by inhibition of DNA double-strand break repair. (Link)
Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of β-catenin targets imatinib-resistant leukemia stem cells in CML. (Link)
Genistein inhibits the stemness properties of prostate cancer cells through targeting Hedgehog-Gli1 pathway. (Link)
Heating cancer stem cells to reduce tumor relapse. (Link)
Hedgehog signaling antagonist GDC-0449 (Vismodegib) inhibits pancreatic cancer stem cell characteristics: molecular mechanisms. (Link)
Human colon cancer stem cells are enriched by insulin-like growth factor-1 and are sensitive to figitumumab. (Link)
Human ovarian cancer stem/progenitor cells are stimulated by doxorubicin but inhibited by Mullerian inhibiting substance. (Link)
Identification of drugs including a dopamine receptor antagonist that selectively target cancer stem cells. (Link)
Induction of autophagy promotes differentiation of glioma-initiating cells and their radiosensitivity. (Link)
Induction of brain tumor stem cell apoptosis by FTY720: a potential therapeutic agent for glioblastoma. (Link)
Induction of cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in glioblastoma stem-like cells by WP1193, a novel small molecule inhibitor of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. (Link)
Inhibition of cancer stem cell-like properties and reduced chemoradioresistance of glioblastoma using microRNA145 with cationic polyurethane-short branch PEI. (Link)
Inhibition of mitochondrial translation as a therapeutic strategy for human acute myeloid leukemia. (Link)
Inhibition of mouse embryonic carcinoma cell growth by lidamycin through down-regulation of embryonic stem cell-like genes Oct4, Sox2 and Myc. (Link)
Inhibition of phosphorylated STAT3 by cucurbitacin I enhances chemoradiosensitivity in medulloblastoma-derived cancer stem cells. (Link)
Inhibitory effects of omacetaxine on leukemic stem cells and BCR-ABL-induced chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in mice. (Link)
Interferon-alpha modulates the chemosensitivity of CD133-expressing pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine. (Link)
Interleukin-12 inhibits the survival of human colon cancer stem cells in vitro and their tumor initiating capacity in mice. (Link)
Leukemia-initiating cells of patient-derived acute lymphoblastic leukemia xenografts are sensitive toward TRAIL. (Link)
Metabolic modulation of glioblastoma with dichloroacetate. (Link)
Metformin against TGFβ-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT): from cancer stem cells to aging-associated fibrosis. (Link)
Metformin inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion by attenuating CSC function mediated by deregulating miRNAs in pancreatic cancer cells. (Link)
Metformin inhibits growth of thyroid carcinoma cells, suppresses self-renewal of derived cancer stem cells, and potentiates the effect of chemotherapeutic agents. (Link)
Metformin regulates breast cancer stem cell ontogeny by transcriptional regulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) status. (Link)
Metformin represses self-renewal of the human breast carcinoma stem cells via inhibition of estrogen receptor-mediated OCT4 expression. (Link)
Metformin selectively targets cancer stem cells, and acts together with chemotherapy to block tumor growth and prolong remission. (Link)
MicroRNA-199a targets CD44 to suppress the tumorigenicity and multidrug resistance of ovarian cancer-initiating cells. (Link)
Mitochondrial targeting liposomes incorporating daunorubicin and quinacrine for treatment of relapsed breast cancer arising from cancer stem cells. (Link)
MRx102, a triptolide derivative, has potent antileukemic activity in vitro and in a murine model of AML. (Link)
Natural killer cells kill human melanoma cells with characteristics of cancer stem cells. (Link)
New gene-immunotherapy combining TRAIL-lymphocytes and EpCAMxCD3 Bispecific antibody for tumor targeting. (Link)
Non-viral gene delivery nanoparticles based on poly(β-amino esters) for treatment of glioblastoma. (Link)
Notch1 inhibition targets the leukemia-initiating cells in a Tal1/Lmo2 mouse model of T-ALL. (Link)
Novel epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) analogs activate AMP-activated protein kinase pathway and target cancer stem cells. (Link)
Nuclear localization signal-enhanced RNA interference of EZH2 and Oct4 in the eradication of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma-derived cancer stem cells. (Link)
Omacetaxine may have a role in chronic myeloid leukaemia eradication through downregulation of Mcl-1 and induction of apoptosis in stem/progenitor cells. (Link)
Oxaliplatin-incorporated micelles eliminate both cancer stem-like and bulk cell populations in colorectal cancer. (Link)
Oxymatrine diminishes the side population and inhibits the expression of β-catenin in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. (Link)
Photothermolysis of glioblastoma stem-like cells targeted by carbon nanotubes conjugated with CD133 monoclonal antibody. (Link)
PI-103, a dual inhibitor of Class IA phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase and mTOR, has antileukemic activity in AML. (Link)
Pomegranate extract inhibits the proliferation and viability of MMTV-Wnt-1 mouse mammary cancer stem cells in vitro. (Link)
PPARγ agonists regulate the expression of stemness and differentiation genes in brain tumour stem cells. (Link)
Proteasome inhibitors sensitize glioma cells and glioma stem cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by PKCε-dependent downregulation of AKT and XIAP expressions. (Link)
Radiosensitisation of U87MG brain tumours by anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies. (Link)
Rakicidin A effectively induces apoptosis in hypoxia adapted Bcr-Abl positive leukemic cells. (Link)
Rapamycin suppresses self-renewal and vasculogenic potential of stem cells isolated from infantile hemangioma. (Link)
Rapid and selective death of leukemia stem and progenitor cells induced by the compound 4-benzyl, 2-methyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolidine, 3,5 dione (TDZD-8). (Link)
Rapid evaluation of Antrodia camphorata natural products and derivatives in tumourigenic liver progenitor cells with a novel cell proliferation assay. (Link)
Reduction of the putative CD44+CD24- breast cancer stem cell population by targeting the polyamine metabolic pathway with PG11047. (Link)
Regression of metastatic melanoma in a patient by antibody targeting of cancer stem cells. (Link)
Repression of mammosphere formation of human breast cancer cells by soy isoflavone genistein and blueberry polyphenolic acids suggests diet-mediated targeting of cancer stem-like/progenitor cells. (Link)
Resveratrol inhibits pancreatic cancer stem cell characteristics in human and KrasG12D transgenic mice by inhibiting pluripotency maintaining factors and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. (Link)
Resveratrol suppresses growth of cancer stem-like cells by inhibiting fatty acid synthase. (Link)
Salinomycin inhibits osteosarcoma by targeting its tumor stem cells. (Link)
Salinomycin overcomes ABC transporter-mediated multidrug and apoptosis resistance in human leukemia stem cell-like KG-1a cells. (Link)
Selective inhibitory effect of HPMA copolymer-cyclopamine conjugate on prostate cancer stem cells. (Link)
Siomycin A targets brain tumor stem cells partially through a MELK-mediated pathway. (Link)
Small molecule antagonists of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway target breast tumor-initiating cells in a Her2/Neu mouse model of breast cancer. (Link)
Sodium butyrate inhibits the self-renewal capacity of endometrial tumor side-population cells by inducing a DNA damage response. (Link)
Sorafenib enhances the antitumor effects of chemoradiation treatment by downregulating ERCC-1 and XRCC-1 DNA repair proteins. (Link)
Sulforaphane increases drug-mediated cytotoxicity toward cancer stem-like cells of pancreas and prostate. (Link)
Sulforaphane synergizes with quercetin to inhibit self-renewal capacity of pancreatic cancer stem cells. (Link)
Sulforaphane, a dietary component of broccoli/broccoli sprouts, inhibits breast cancer stem cells. (Link)
Synergistic activity of sorafenib and sulforaphane abolishes pancreatic cancer stem cell characteristics. (Link)
Targeting ALDH(bright) human carcinoma-initiating cells with ALDH1A1-specific CD8⁺ T cells. (Link)
Targeting brain tumor stem cells with oncolytic adenoviruses. (Link)
Targeting breast stem cells with the cancer preventive compounds curcumin and piperine. (Link)
Targeting colon cancer stem cells using a new curcumin analogue, GO-Y030. (Link)
Targeting colorectal cancer stem cells with inducible caspase-9. (Link)
Targeting HIF1α eliminates cancer stem cells in hematological malignancies. (Link)
Targeting of pancreatic and prostate cancer stem cell characteristics by Crambe crambe marine sponge extract. (Link)
Targeting of α(v)-integrins in stem/progenitor cells and supportive microenvironment impairs bone metastasis in human prostate cancer. (Link)
Targeting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway by cucurbitacin I diminishes self-renewing and radiochemoresistant abilities in thyroid cancer-derived CD133+ cells. (Link)
Targeting the mitochondria activates two independent cell death pathways in ovarian cancer stem cells. (Link)
Targeting tumor-initiating cancer cells with dCD133KDEL shows impressive tumor reductions in a xenotransplant model of human head and neck cancer. (Link)
TCF3 inhibits F9 embryonal carcinoma growth by the down-regulation of Oct4. (Link)
Telomestatin impairs glioma stem cell survival and growth through the disruption of telomeric G-quadruplex and inhibition of the proto-oncogene, c-Myb. (Link)
Temozolomide decreases invasion of glioma stem cells by down-regulating TGF-β2. (Link)
Temozolomide preferentially depletes cancer stem cells in glioblastoma. (Link)
The anti-diabetic drug metformin suppresses self-renewal and proliferation of trastuzumab-resistant tumor-initiating breast cancer stem cells. (Link)
The BMP2/7 heterodimer inhibits the human breast cancer stem cell subpopulation and bone metastases formation. (Link)
The cancer stem cell selective inhibitor salinomycin is a p-glycoprotein inhibitor. (Link)
The eradication of breast cancer and cancer stem cells using octreotide modified paclitaxel active targeting micelles and salinomycin passive targeting micelles. (Link)
The impact of novel retinoids in combination with platinum chemotherapy on ovarian cancer stem cells. (Link)
The MEK inhibitor PD184352 enhances BMS-214662-induced apoptosis in CD34+ CML stem/progenitor cells. (Link)
The natural products parthenolide and andrographolide exhibit anti-cancer stem cell activity in multiple myeloma. (Link)
The resistance of breast cancer stem cells to conventional hyperthermia and their sensitivity to nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy. (Link)
The telomerase antagonist, imetelstat, efficiently targets glioblastoma tumor-initiating cells leading to decreased proliferation and tumor growth. (Link)
The telomerase inhibitor imetelstat depletes cancer stem cells in breast and pancreatic cancer cell lines. (Link)
Therapeutic targeting of Chk1 in NSCLC stem cells during chemotherapy. (Link)
Thermal enhancement with optically activated gold nanoshells sensitizes breast cancer stem cells to radiation therapy. (Link)
Transient low doses of DNA-demethylating agents exert durable antitumor effects on hematological and epithelial tumor cells. (Link)
Trastuzumab (herceptin) targets gastric cancer stem cells characterized by CD90 phenotype. (Link)
Δ12-prostaglandin J3, an omega-3 fatty acid-derived metabolite, selectively ablates leukemia stem cells in mice. (Link)
