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Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

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...

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

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 Cells

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:...

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

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,...

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

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,...

Metastasis

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies

Published on: June 20, 2015

Recent advances in cancer stem cells.

Robert W Cho¹, Michael F Clarke

¹Department of Pediatrics Division of Stem Cell Transplantation, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1334, United States.

Current Opinion in Genetics & Development

|March 22, 2008

Summary

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of tumor cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation. Research in leukemia and solid tumors, including breast and brain cancers, supports the CSC theory, paving the way for future investigations.

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Area of Science:

Oncology
Cancer Biology
Stem Cell Research

Background:

The cancer stem cell (CSC) theory posits that a distinct subpopulation of cells within a tumor possesses self-renewal and differentiation capabilities.
This concept was initially validated in leukemia, where specific cell surface markers identified cells capable of inducing leukemia upon transplantation into immunodeficient mice.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the presence and implications of cancer stem cells in solid tumors.
To establish a foundation for future research into the mechanisms underlying cancer stem cell function and therapeutic targeting.

Main Methods:

Utilizing mouse models to study solid tumors, applying techniques similar to those used in leukemia research.
Investigating human tumor samples from various cancer types, including breast, brain, pancreas, head and neck, and colon.

Main Results:

Evidence suggests the existence of cancer stem cells in various human solid tumors.
Demonstrated the ability to enrich for cancer stem cells in experimental models.

Conclusions:

The findings support the cancer stem cell theory in a broader range of cancers beyond leukemia.
Enriching for cancer stem cells is crucial for future studies investigating their underlying mechanisms and for developing targeted therapies.