Methods of inhibiting cancer stem cells with HMGA1 inhibitors

1. A method of inhibiting at least one cancer stem cell, the method comprising contacting at least one cancer stem cell with an effective amount of at least one HMGA1 inhibitor, wherein the at least one cancer stem cell is selected from the group consisting of a breast cancer stem cell, a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma stem cell, and a colorectal cancer stem cell.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein inhibiting the at least one cancer stem cell is selected from the group consisting of:

i) inhibiting proliferation of the at least one cancer stem cell;

ii) inhibiting self-renewal of the at least one cancer stem cell;

iii) inhibiting anchorage-independent growth of the at least one cancer stem cell;

iv) inhibiting migration of the at least one cancer stem cell;

v) inhibiting invasion of the at least one cancer stem cell;

vi) reprogramming the at least one cancer stem cell from a stem-like state that is refractory to apoptosis to a non stem-like state that is susceptible to apoptosis; and

vii) combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cancer stem cell is in an aggressive and/or poorly differentiated metastatic tumor, and inhibiting the at least one cancer stem cell inhibits at least one of:

i) growth of the aggressive and/or poorly differentiated metastatic tumor;

ii) proliferation of the aggressive and/or poorly differentiated metastatic tumor;

iii) migration of the aggressive and/or poorly differentiated metastatic tumor;

iv) invasion of the aggressive and/or poorly differentiated metastatic tumor;

v) initiation of new aggressive and/or poorly differentiated metastatic tumors; and

vi) combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cancer stem cell expresses greater levels of HMGA1 as compared to non-stem cancer cells in the aggressive and/or poorly differentiated metastatic tumor.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the breast cancer stem cell is a triple-negative breast cancer cell.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one HMGA1 inhibitor reduces the expression level and/or activity of HMGA1.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one HMG1 inhibitor is an RNA interfering agent.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one HMGA1 inhibitor is an shRNA.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the shRNA targets the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting the at least one cancer stem cell with a chemotherapeutic agent.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is gemcitabine.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cancer stem cell is contacted in a subject.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the subject is a human subject.