Interaction between prostate cancer stem cells and bone microenvironment regulates prostate cancer bone metastasis and treatment resistance

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers with increasing rates of incidence. Bone metastasis and drug resistance are the most serious threat faced by patients following a delayed diagnosis of cancer, which might lead to treatment failure and death. The theoretical model of cancer stem cells (CSCs) explains the diverse molecular characteristics of cancer as well as its relapse, metastasis and drug resistance. Prostate cancer involves heterogeneous cells community, including prostate cancer stem cells as an important component. These subtypes of cancer cells are usually monoclonal, expressing specific biomarkers and exhibiting self-renewal and differentiation capacity. Therefore, therapies that target CSCs might be more effective in overcome drug resistance and metastasis. Thus, anti-CSCs therapies differ from the traditional anti-proliferative approach. We focus here on reviewing the effects of prostate CSCs on bone metastasis and resistance to traditional treatment in PCa, and report new clinical strategies that address CSC-based tumorigenesis.