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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Published on: January 18, 2017

Inflammation and cancer stem cells.

Sarah Shigdar¹, Yong Li², Santanu Bhattacharya³

¹School of Medicine, Deakin University, Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3217, Australia.

|August 15, 2013

Summary

Cancer stem cells drive metastasis and treatment resistance. Inflammation, through cytokines, activates pathways for cancer stem cell migration and secondary tumor growth.

Keywords:

Cancer stem cells Epigenetics Epithelial–mesenchymal transition Inflammation Microenvironment

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Last Updated: May 8, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

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Published on: January 18, 2017

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Obtaining Cancer Stem Cell Spheres from Gynecological and Breast Cancer Tumors

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Published on: March 1, 2020

Area of Science:

Cancer Biology
Immunology
Cellular Signaling

Background:

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are increasingly implicated in tumor metastasis and therapeutic resistance.
The intricate regulatory networks governing CSCs and the influence of inflammation on cancer progression are under active investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the role of inflammation-associated cytokines in regulating cancer stem cell (CSC) behavior.
To understand the molecular mechanisms driving CSCs through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and subsequent metastasis.

Main Methods:

Analysis of cytokine signaling pathways activated by tumor-associated immune cells.
Investigation of CSC-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migratory capabilities.
Assessment of CSC self-propagation in secondary tumor microenvironments.

Main Results:

Tumor-associated immune cells secrete cytokines that activate CSC-specific pathways.
Cytokine signaling promotes CSCs' epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), enabling migration to distant sites.
Metastatic CSCs establish and propagate tumors in secondary niches by secreting attractant molecules.

Conclusions:

Inflammation plays a critical role in driving cancer stem cell (CSC) metastasis through cytokine signaling.
Targeting cytokine pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies against CSC-driven cancer progression and recurrence.