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Related Concept Videos

Embryonic Stem Cells00:57

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
Embryonic Stem Cells00:58

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells01:19

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their access...
Stem Cell Culture01:17

Stem Cell Culture

Stem cell research aims to find ways to use stem cells to regenerate and repair cellular damage. Over time, most adult cells undergo the wear and tear of aging and lose their ability to divide and repair themselves. Stem cells do not display a particular morphology or function. Adult stem cells, which exist as a small subset of cells in most tissues, keep dividing and can differentiate into a number of specialized cells generally formed by that tissue. These cells enable the body to renew and...
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:...
Source And Potency Of Stem Cells01:27

Source And Potency Of Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with extensive self-renewal properties that help them maintain their population during the fetal and adult stages of life. They can specialize in all cell types of the human body. However, their differential potential may vary and can be classified into five types. Stem cells can be (1) Totipotent, (2) Pluripotent, (3) Multipotent, (4) Oligopotent, and (5) Unipotent. Each stem cell has a specific origin; the fertilized egg or zygote is a totipotent cell and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Mammosphere Formation Assay from Human Breast Cancer Tissues and Cell Lines
10:51

Mammosphere Formation Assay from Human Breast Cancer Tissues and Cell Lines

Published on: March 22, 2015

Stem cells in the human breast.

Ole William Petersen1, Kornelia Polyak

  • 1Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Panum Building, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. o.w.petersen@sund.ku.dk

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|May 11, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Human breast stem cells are key to development, tissue health, and cancer. Understanding these stem cells and their descendants is vital for distinguishing normal cells from cancerous ones.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The origins of human breast epithelial cells involved in development, homeostasis, and cancer remain unclear.
  • Adult tissue-specific stem cells are increasingly implicated in these fundamental breast processes.
  • These stem cells hierarchically generate distinct mammary cell lineages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the biological characteristics of human breast stem cells and their progeny.
  • To compare normal stem cells with cancer precursor and non-precursor cells.
  • To understand the cell-of-origin and reprogramming in human breast cancer development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical research on human breast stem cells in primary tissue and culture.

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Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples
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Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples

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Evaluation of Stem Cell Properties in Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cells Using Multi and Single Cell-based Spheres Assays
08:39

Evaluation of Stem Cell Properties in Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cells Using Multi and Single Cell-based Spheres Assays

Published on: January 3, 2015

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Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Mammosphere Formation Assay from Human Breast Cancer Tissues and Cell Lines
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Mammosphere Formation Assay from Human Breast Cancer Tissues and Cell Lines

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Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples
07:03

Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples

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Evaluation of Stem Cell Properties in Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cells Using Multi and Single Cell-based Spheres Assays
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Evaluation of Stem Cell Properties in Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cells Using Multi and Single Cell-based Spheres Assays

Published on: January 3, 2015

  • Analysis of cell-of-origin concepts in neoplastic conversion.
  • Investigation of cellular reprogramming during tumorigenesis.

    • Main Results:

    • Progress has been made in understanding human breast stem cell biology through historical research.
    • The cell-of-origin and reprogramming during neoplastic conversion offer insights into breast cancer lineage skewing.
    • Human breast cancers show a tendency towards the luminal epithelial lineage.

    Conclusions:

    • Understanding human breast stem cells is crucial for deciphering normal tissue function and cancer origins.
    • Distinguishing between normal, precursor, and tumor cells relies on characterizing stem cell progeny.
    • Neoplastic conversion mechanisms explain the lineage bias observed in human breast cancers.