Cancer stem cells versus phenotype-switching in melanoma

• Published in: Pigment cell and melanoma research Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 746 - 759
• Main Authors: Hoek, Keith S., Goding, Colin R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2010
• Subjects: Animals; cancer stem cells; Humans; Melanocytes - metabolism; Melanocytes - pathology; melanoma; Melanoma - genetics; Melanoma - pathology; Melanoma - therapy; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor - metabolism; Mitf; Neoplastic Stem Cells - metabolism; Neoplastic Stem Cells - pathology; Phenotype; phenotype-switching; Precancerous Conditions - pathology

Summary Tumours comprise multiple phenotypically distinct subpopulations of cells, some of which are proposed to possess stem cell‐like properties, being able to self‐renew, seed and maintain tumours, and provide a reservoir of therapeutically resistant cells. Here, we use melanoma as a model to exp...