The Role of Secreted Frizzled-related Protein-4 (sFRP4) in the Epigenetics, Metabolism and Chemo-sensitisation of Cancer Stem Cells

Abstract

This study investigated molecular signals involved in sustaining CSCs and ways to target their activity using sFRP4 alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs, possible involvement of methylation-mediated silencing of the sFRP gene family, and metabolic reprogramming by relocating metabolic flux to glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation. sFRPs have an ability to sensitize tumour cells to chemotherapeutic drugs, thereby enhancing cell death. Altogether, sFRP4 treatment compromises the cell proliferation, and critically affects the cell survival mechanisms of CSCs.