Total cellular iron as a marker of cancer stem cells and uses thereof

1. A method for selectively killing CSCs in a mammal, comprising administering to said mammal an iron-chelating pharmaceutical composition, comprising at least one component selected from 20-alkyl-amino derivatives of salinomycin of formula (I′)

wherein:

X is selected from the group consisting of OH and ═O,

Y is selected from the group consisting of —NR 1 R 2 ; —NR 3 —(CH 2 ) n —NR 4 R 5 ; —O—(CH 2 ) n —NR 4 R 5 ; —NR 3 —(CH 2 ) n —N + R 6 R 7 R 8 ; and —O—(CH 2 ) n —N + R 6 R 7 R 8 ; and

R 1 and R 2 , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of H; (C 1 -C 16 )-alkyl; (C 3 -C 16 )-alkenyl; (C 3 -C 16 )-alkynyl; aryl; heteroaryl; (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl-aryl; (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl-heteroaryl; or R 1 represents H and R 2 represents OR 9 , where R 9 is H, (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl, aryl and (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl-aryl;

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of H; (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl; (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl-aryl;

R 4 and R 5 , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of H; (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl; aryl; (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl-aryl;

R 6 , R 7 and R 8 , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl; aryl; (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl-aryl;

n=2, 3, 4, 5 or 6,

Z is a functional group capable of chelating iron salts such as OH: NHNR 9 R 10 (hydrazine), NHOC(O)R 11 (O-Acyl hydroxylamine), N(OH)—C(O)R 11 (N-acyl hydroxylamine), OOH, SR 12 ; 2-aminopyridine; 3-aminopyridine; —NR 3 —(CH 2 ) n —NR 4 R 5 ; —NR 3 —(CH 2 ) n —OH; where:

R 9 and R 10 , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of H, (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl, aryl and (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl-aryl;

R 11 is selected from the group consisting of H; (C 1 -C 16 )-alkyl; (C 3 -C 16 )-alkenyl; (C 3 -C 16 )-alkynyl; aryl; heteroaryl; (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl-aryl; (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl-heteroaryl;

R 12 is selected from the group consisting of H; (C 1 -C 16 )-alkyl; (C 3 -C 16 )-alkenyl; (C 3 -C 16 )-alkynyl; aryl; heteroaryl; (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl-aryl; (C 1 -C 6 )-alkyl-heteroaryl,

n=0, 2, 3 or 4, AM5, AM23, AM23S, and combinations thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said iron-chelating pharmaceutical composition binds total cellular iron under the form of ferrous (Fe 2+ ) and ferric (Fe 3+ ) iron in said mammal, thereby inducing ferritinophagy and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production responsible for specific and/or selective CSC death in said mammal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said iron-chelating pharmaceutical composition binds total cellular iron under the form of ferrous (Fe 2+ ) and ferric (Fe 3+ ) iron in said mammal while preventing drug-resistance in said mammal by selectively targeting CSCs.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said iron-chelating pharmaceutical composition binds total cellular iron under the form of ferrous (Fe 2+ ) and ferric (Fe 3+ ) iron in said mammal while preventing drug-resistance in said mammal by selectively targeting CSCs.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the mammal having CSCs is selected according to an in vitro method for diagnosing cancer having a high risk of recurrence, a high risk of metastasis, and/or a cancer with resistance to therapy, in a subject, comprising at least:

a) measuring the amount of total cellular iron, preferably under the form of ferrous iron (Fe 2+ ), in a biological sample from a subject; and

b) comparing said amount measured in step a) to a reference value range for total cellular iron,

wherein an amount of total cellular iron as measured in step a) is higher than said reference value range is indicative of the presence of CSCs, thereby indicating that said subject has a cancer.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the amount of total cellular iron as measured in step a) of the in vitro method, which is indicative of the presence of CSCs, is superior or equal to 0.05 pg/cell, preferably superior to 0.06 pg/cell, preferably superior to 0.07 pg/cell, preferably superior to 0.08 pg/cell, preferably superior to 0.09 pg/cell, preferably superior to 0.10 pg/cell, preferably superior to 0.11 pg/cell, preferably superior to 0.12 pg/cell, preferably superior to 0.13 pg/cell, preferably superior to 0.14 pg/cell, preferably superior to 0.20 pg/cell, preferably superior to 0.24 pg/cell, more preferably higher than 0.30 pg/cell.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said composition is co-administered with radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

8. A method according to claim 1 , for selectively killing breast CSCs in a mammal.