Ovarian cancer stem cells: Working towards the root of stemness

Highlights ► Most ovarian cancer patients achieve a significant clinical response but develop recurrent chemoresistant disease that is usually fatal. ► Ovarian tumors contain cancer stem cells which likely escape cytotoxic effects of standard chemotherapy and contribute to disease resurgence. ► Investigators have isolated ovarian cancer stem cells based on differential biochemical properties and/or cell surface marker expression. ► Recent studies have investigated the underlying biology of ovarian cancer stem cells and analyzed candidate therapies that target the cells. ► Ovarian cancer is a complex heterogeneous disease making further understanding of the cancer stem cell population especially challenging.