Cancer stem cell discovery could signal paradigm shift. Im hosting a panel discussion on the increasingly popular hypothesis that cancer stem cells. Since last two decades, the major cancer research has focused on understanding the characteristic properties and mechanism of formation of cancer stem cells cscs, due to their ability to initiate tumor growth, selfrenewal property and multidrug resistance. Outer radial glialike cancer stem cells contribute to. Understanding of the particular cancer cells within a tumour that drive its growth could now. Chapter 5 cancer stem cell, epithelial and mesenchymal markers. Unequivocal proof that stem cells exist in the haematopoietic system has given way to the prospective isolation of several tissuespecific stem and progenitor. Abstract background ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death in gynecological cancer. Contribution of cancer stem cells to tumor vasculogenic. Any therapy to target cancer stem cells may also destroy. Tumor stem cells in cancer biology, prevention, and therapy p01 rfaca08020.
The cancer stem cell hypothesis states that just as mature cells are maintained by selfrenewing stem cells, cancerous tumours are the abnormal progeny of abnormal stem cells or of progenitor cells whose dna carries mutations. In recent years, ovarian cancer has been described as a kind of stem cell disease 39. The newlyidentified cancer stem cells are very similar to healthy stem cells responsible for growing and renewing tissue in the body. Only a small part of the cancer cells, called cancer stem cells cscs, can generate a. Thus, cancer stem cells cscs are a small population of cells within tumors holding.
Another important implication is that it is the cancer stem cells that give rise to metastases when cancer travels from one part of the body to another and can also act as a reservoir of cancer cells that may cause a relapse after surgery, radiation or chemotherapy has eliminated all observable signs of a cancer. Stem cell versus cancer and cancer stem cell longdom. In the context of cancer stem cells, stemness would refer to the ability of those cancer stem cells to replicate themselves and their potential to differentiate into other types of cells that. Our pdf merger allows you to quickly combine multiple pdf files into one single pdf document, in just a few clicks.
Cancer stem cells, new frontier in cancer research presented by max wicha, m. Within these gscs, we identify an invasive cell population similar to outer radial glia org, a fetal cell type that expands the stem cell niche in normal human. Mathematical model for the cancer stem cell hypothesis. Nih funding opportunities and notices in the nih guide for grants and contracts. Conversely, the cancer stem cell csc model postulates a hierarchical organization of cells such that only a small subset is responsible for sustaining tumorigenesis and establishing the cellular heterogeneity inherent in the primary tumor. Unequivocal proof that stem cells exist in the haematopoietic system has given way to the prospective isolation. Also, one or more kinds of adult stem cells may harbor one type of somatic tissue, for example, mammalian bone marrow, and cues from one stem. Cancer stem cells cscs contribute to the occurrence, progression and resistance. Cancer stem cells cscs are believed to be tumorinitiating cells, capable of selfrenewal and multipotent differentiation, which resemble normal stem cells in phenotype and function. The discovery of the mechanism of acquisition of stem like properties by carcinoma cells via epithelialmesenchymal transition emt.
The future of cancer therapy may lie in the very stem cells that cause cancer in the first place. Through this property, striking parallels can be found between stem cells and cancer cells. Targeting cancer stem cells in the lab sciencedaily. University of groningen cancer stem cells and epithelialto.