Notch3 Targeting: A Novel Weapon against Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells

Figure 2

A proposed model for therapeutic approaches targeting ovarian CSC. (a) Conventional chemotherapy targets the cells that constitute the bulk of the tumor, but CSCs frequently develop drug resistance and their subsequent enrichment generally leads to tumor recurrence and poor prognosis. (b) Combined therapies involving inhibition of Notch signaling by using conventional drugs, such as GSI as pan-Notch inhibitor, are able to sensitize CSCs to chemotherapy and ameliorate patients’ prognosis but are associated with intestinal toxicity. (c) Combined therapies, targeting CSCs through the specific Notch3 inhibition, can potentially result in tumor regression and reduced toxicity.

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