Cancer stem cell

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Cancer Stem Cell

Cancer stem cells (kan-sər stem sels, from the Latin cancer meaning "crab" and the Old English stemn, "trunk of a tree") are a type of cell that possess characteristics associated with normal stem cells, specifically the ability to give rise to all cell types found in a particular cancer sample. These cells are therefore tumorigenic (tumor-forming), perhaps in contrast to other non-tumorigenic cancer cells.

Characteristics

Cancer stem cells are believed to survive in tumors as a distinct population and cause relapse and metastasis by giving rise to new tumors. Therefore, development of specific therapies targeted at cancer stem cells holds hope for improvement of survival and quality of life of cancer patients, especially for patients with metastatic disease.

Identification

Identifying cancer stem cells involves the same strategies as those for normal stem cells. Cancer stem cells can be identified by studying the cell surface protein markers they express. This is often done using flow cytometry.

Role in Cancer

Cancer stem cells are thought to be responsible for high rates of recurrence and drug resistance in cancer. They are often resistant to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which may explain why cancers recur after treatment.

Therapeutic Implications

Understanding the role of cancer stem cells in cancer progression and therapy resistance is a major area of current research. This research is expected to lead to the development of novel cancer therapeutics targeting cancer stem cells.

Related Terms

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