Putative cancer stem cells in cutaneous malignancies.

Maria R Kamstrup1, Robert Gniadecki, Gunhild L Skovgaard

  • 1Department of Dermatology, University of Copenhagen, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. mk43@bbh.hosp.dk

Summary

Cancer stem cells drive tumor growth and relapse in various cancers. This overview explores their role in skin cancers, highlighting the need for targeted therapies.

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Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

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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.
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