Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Bioengineering of Humanized Bone Marrow Microenvironments in Mouse and Their Visualization by Live Imaging
Published on: August 1, 2017
The stem cell niche in health and malignancy
Monika L Burness1, Dorothy A Sipkins
1Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, The University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, 60637 IL, USA.
Cancer stem cells, like somatic stem cells, reside in specialized niches that control their survival and proliferation. Targeting these cancer stem cells and their microenvironments may offer new therapeutic strategies for tumor eradication.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Cancer biology
- Tumor microenvironment research
Background:
- Somatic stem cells are crucial for tissue renewal.
- Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are implicated in tumor initiation and drug resistance.
- Both cell types reside in specialized microenvironments (niches).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of stem cell niches in cancer.
- To investigate the potential of targeting CSCs and their microenvironments for cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on stem cells and cancer.
- Analysis of the functional role of stem cell niches.
- Examination of therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs and niches.
Main Results:
- Stem cell niches regulate CSC quiescence, survival, and proliferation.
- CSCs are controversially discussed regarding their origin and characterization.
- Existing drugs show efficacy partly through microenvironment effects.
Conclusions:
- Targeting CSCs and their niches presents a promising therapeutic avenue.
- The tumor microenvironment is a key factor in CSC maintenance and therapy resistance.
- Further research into CSC niche interactions is warranted for novel cancer treatments.
More Related Videos
08:34Flow Cytometry Analysis of Murine Bone Marrow Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells and Stromal Niche Cells
Published on: September 28, 2022
11:06Combining Intravital Fluorescent Microscopy (IVFM) with Genetic Models to Study Engraftment Dynamics of Hematopoietic Cells to Bone Marrow Niches
Published on: March 21, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Stem Cell Niche
Multipotency of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance
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 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
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:...
Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell