Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

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...
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:...
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,...
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,...
Metastasis02:30

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Interrogating colorectal cancer metastasis to liver: a search for clinically viable compounds and mechanistic insights in colorectal cancer Patient Derived Organoids.

Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR·2023
Same author

Oral mucositis: the hidden side of cancer therapy.

Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR·2020
Same author

Luminescent conjugates between dinuclear rhenium complexes and 17α-ethynylestradiol: synthesis, photophysical characterization, and cell imaging.

Organic & biomolecular chemistry·2018
Same author

The interactions of fullerene C<sub>60</sub> and Benzo(α)pyrene influence their bioavailability and toxicity to zebrafish embryos.

Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)·2018
Same author

AQP1 is not only a water channel: It contributes to cell migration through Lin7/beta-catenin.

Cell adhesion & migration·2010
Same author

+10 T/C polymorphisms in the gene of transforming growth factor-beta1 are associated with neurodegeneration and its clinical evolution.

Mechanisms of ageing and development·2007

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Patient Derived Cell Culture and Isolation of CD133+ Putative Cancer Stem Cells from Melanoma
12:16

Patient Derived Cell Culture and Isolation of CD133+ Putative Cancer Stem Cells from Melanoma

Published on: March 13, 2013

Cancer stem cells: lessons from melanoma.

Caterina La Porta1

  • 1Department of Biomolecular Science and Biotechnology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. caterina.laporta@unimi.it

Stem Cell Reviews and Reports
|December 19, 2008
PubMed
Summary

The cancer stem cell model suggests a small tumor cell subset drives growth. This review critically examines the existence and markers of these cells in melanoma.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Melanoma Research

Background:

  • The cancer stem cell (CSC) model posits that tumors originate from a distinct subpopulation of cells possessing self-renewal and differentiation capabilities.
  • Similar to normal adult stem cells, CSCs are thought to be rare within a tumor but essential for sustained tumor growth and progression.
  • Understanding CSCs is crucial for developing effective cancer therapies targeting tumor recurrence and metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the evidence for the existence of a distinct cancer stem cell subpopulation specifically within melanoma.
  • To review the key self-renewal signaling pathways implicated in the behavior of putative melanoma CSCs.
  • To discuss the role and identification of specific markers, such as CD133, ABCB5, and ABCG2, associated with melanoma CSCs.

More Related Videos

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells
06:09

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells

Published on: June 7, 2019

Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics
11:28

Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics

Published on: May 11, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Patient Derived Cell Culture and Isolation of CD133+ Putative Cancer Stem Cells from Melanoma
12:16

Patient Derived Cell Culture and Isolation of CD133+ Putative Cancer Stem Cells from Melanoma

Published on: March 13, 2013

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells
06:09

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells

Published on: June 7, 2019

Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics
11:28

Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics

Published on: May 11, 2016

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes current scientific literature and research findings.
  • It involves a critical analysis of studies investigating cell populations within melanoma tumors.
  • The discussion focuses on signaling pathways and molecular markers identified in potential melanoma CSCs.

Main Results:

  • The existence of a definitive cancer stem cell subpopulation in melanoma remains a subject of ongoing research and debate.
  • Several signaling pathways are proposed to be involved in the self-renewal of these putative melanoma CSCs.
  • Specific cell surface markers, including CD133, ABCB5, and ABCG2, have been identified in cells with CSC-like properties in melanoma.

Conclusions:

  • While the CSC model provides a framework for understanding tumor heterogeneity and growth, its direct applicability to melanoma requires further rigorous investigation.
  • Identifying and validating specific markers and pathways are essential steps toward confirming and targeting melanoma CSCs.
  • Further research is needed to definitively establish the role of CSCs in melanoma initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance.