Natural products targeting cancer stem cells: a promising therapeutic approach

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death globally, posing an ongoing threat to public health. A hallmark of cancer cells is their capacity to invade adjacent tissues and evolve into malignant forms, often resulting in aggressive tumors resistant to conventional treatments. At the heart of this therapeutic challenge are cancer stem cells (CSCs), which possess distinctive capabilities for self-renewal, differentiation, and generation of diverse tumor cell populations. These CSCs have been identified across multiple tissue types, including lung, colon, breast, pancreas, and ovary. Research has demonstrated that CSC subpopulations contribute significantly to therapeutic resistance, tumor recurrence, and metastasis by regulating multiple signaling pathways, making them compelling targets for cancer therapy. Notably, emerging evidence suggests that natural products may offer protective benefits against cancer development while potentially targeting CSCs. This review synthesizes current knowledge of CSCs, examining their identifying markers, isolation techniques, study methods, and associated signaling pathways. Additionally, we explore various natural products that specifically target CSCs across different cancer types, presenting potential strategies to address the persistent challenges of drug resistance and cancer relapse.