[Cancer stem cell theory and cancer therapy]

To analyze the advances of cancer stem cell (CSC) in recent years, and to propose a prospect for CSC research and cancer therapy.

Articles about important advances of CSC theory and cancer therapy were reviewed, and then selected and summarized.

In 2001, CSC was first put forward as a concept, till now, which has been confirmed in many tissues. In recent years, efforts were dedicated to such topics including: identification of CSC in solid tumors, the origin of CSC, its niche and growth mechanism, cancer therapy, etc. According to the CSC theory, traditional therapeutic methods have deficiencies, and new treatment targeting CSC may thoroughly eliminate tumors.

At present, CSC theory is still controversial, while it proposed revolutionary methods and directions for the therapy of cancer.