Cancer stem cells: a model in the making

Cancer stem cells and their potential roles in tumor heterogeneity are currently subjects of intense investigation. Studies suggest that these cells may develop from any normal cell and have begun to elucidate their molecular profiles. The percentage of a tumor composed of cancer stem cells varies g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCurrent opinion in genetics & development Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 44 - 50
Main Authors Marotta, Lauren L Campbell, Polyak, Kornelia
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2009
Subjects
Animals
Humans
Medical Education
Models, Biological
Neoplasm Metastasis - pathology
Neoplastic Stem Cells - pathology
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Summary:Cancer stem cells and their potential roles in tumor heterogeneity are currently subjects of intense investigation. Studies suggest that these cells may develop from any normal cell and have begun to elucidate their molecular profiles. The percentage of a tumor composed of cancer stem cells varies greatly, and researchers believe that multiple types of these cells may exist in a single neoplasm. Cancer stem cells may be formed by epithelial–mesenchymal transition and seem to be less prevalent in metastases than in corresponding primary tumors. These cells appear to have therapeutic sensitivities different from those of cancer cells with more differentiated features. Looking into the many questions that remain about the cancer stem cells model might lead to more effective cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
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ISSN:0959-437X
1879-0380
DOI:10.1016/j.gde.2008.12.003