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Related Concept Videos

What is Cancer?02:12

What is Cancer?

Cells and tissues must meticulously coordinate their activities for the normal functioning of the human body. Therefore, they exhibit socially responsible behavior - resting, growing, dividing, differentiating, or dying - for the organism’s benefit. Cancer arises when cells divide uncontrollably and invade other tissues or organs.
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of patients who died from...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Mouse Models of Cancer Study02:43

Mouse Models of Cancer Study

Mice have long served as models for studying human biology and pathology because of their phylogenetic and physiological similarity with humans. They are also easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory, and hence, many inbred strains are now available for research. Studies on mice have contributed immeasurably to our understanding of cancer biology.
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells01:18

Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells

A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that can divide without limit as needed and can, under specific conditions, differentiate into specialized cells.
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are tissue-specific; hence, they divide to develop the tissue from which they originate. One type of adult stem cell is the epithelial stem cell, which gives rise to the keratinocytes in the multiple layers of epithelial cells in the epidermis of the skin. Adult bone marrow has three distinct types of stem cells:...

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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics
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Cancer stem cells: models and concepts.

Piero Dalerba1, Robert W Cho, Michael F Clarke

  • 1Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94304, USA. pdalerba@stanford.edu

Annual Review of Medicine
|September 28, 2006
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human tumors may be heterogeneous due to cancer stem cells, which are pathological adult stem cells driving tumor growth. This stem cell model offers new therapeutic strategies for various cancers.

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Last Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics
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Published on: May 11, 2016

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Published on: October 2, 2020

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Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Stem Cell Research

Background:

  • Tumor heterogeneity is traditionally explained by genetic mutations and microenvironmental variations.
  • An alternative model proposes functional heterogeneity arises from cancer cell differentiation.
  • This model posits tumors mimic normal tissues, sustained by cancer stem cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biological underpinnings of the cancer stem cell model.
  • To explore the therapeutic implications of this model for cancer treatment.
  • To discuss the extension of the cancer stem cell model to solid tumors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on cancer stem cells.
  • Analysis of the biological basis for tumor heterogeneity.
  • Examination of therapeutic strategies derived from the stem cell model.

Main Results:

  • Cancer stem cells offer a plausible explanation for tumor heterogeneity beyond genetic subclones.
  • The stem cell model is applicable to both leukemias and solid tumors like breast and brain cancer.
  • Understanding cancer stem cells opens avenues for targeted cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

  • The cancer stem cell model provides a framework for understanding tumor development and heterogeneity.
  • Targeting cancer stem cells holds significant therapeutic potential for improving cancer treatment outcomes.
  • Further research into cancer stem cell biology is crucial for advancing oncology.