Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40806546›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

Cancer Stem Cells in Melanoma: Drivers of Tumor Plasticity and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies.

Adrian-Horațiu Sabău, Andreea-Cătălina Tinca, Raluca Niculescu, Iuliu Gabriel Cocuz, Andreea Raluca Cozac-Szöke, Bianca Andreea Lazar, Diana Maria Chiorean, Corina Eugenia Budin, Ovidiu Simion Cotoi

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Integrating multi-omics data for next-generation cancer research and precision medicine.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Adrian-Horațiu SabăuDoctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.
Andreea-Cătălina TincaPathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-9603-6256
Raluca NiculescuPathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.ORCID 0009-0000-9016-5412
Iuliu Gabriel CocuzPathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-5985-2433
Andreea Raluca Cozac-SzökePathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.
Bianca Andreea LazarPathology Department, Clinical County Hospital Mureș, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania.
Diana Maria ChioreanPathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.
Corina Eugenia BudinPathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-7785-0121
Ovidiu Simion CotoiPathophysiology Department, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cutaneous malignant melanoma is an extraordinarily aggressive and heterogeneous cancer that contains a small subpopulation of tumor stem cells (CSCs) responsible for tumor initiation, metastasis, and recurrence. Identification and characterization of CSCs in melanoma is challenging due to tumor heterogeneity and the lack of specific markers (CD271, ABCB5, ALDH, Nanog) and the ability of cells to dynamically change their phenotype. Phenotype-maintaining signaling pathways (Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, Hedgehog, HIF-1) promote self-renewal, treatment resistance, and epithelial-mesenchymal transitions. Tumor plasticity reflects the ability of differentiated cells to acquire stem-like traits and phenotypic flexibility under stress conditions. The interaction of CSCs with the tumor microenvironment accelerates disease progression: they induce the formation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and neo-angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and recruitment of immunosuppressive cells, facilitating immune evasion. Emerging therapeutic strategies include immunotherapy (immune checkpoint inhibitors), epigenetic inhibitors, and nanotechnologies (targeted nanoparticles) for delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. Understanding the role of CSCs and tumor plasticity paves the way for more effective innovative therapies against melanoma.

Indexed as

MelanomaNeoplastic Stem CellsSkin NeoplasmsAnimalsCell PlasticityEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionHumansImmunotherapyTumor Microenvironmentcancer stem cellsmelanomasignaling pathwaystherapy resistance

Identifiers

PMID40806546
PMCPMC12347029

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.