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Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Establishment of Cancer Stem Cell Cultures from Human Conventional Osteosarcoma
Published on: October 14, 2016
Asymmetric division of stem cells and its cancer relevance
Shanshan Chao1,2,3, Huiwen Yan1,2,3, Pengcheng Bu4,5,6
1Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
Abstract:
Asymmetric division is a fundamental process for generating cell diversity and maintaining the stem cell population. During asymmetric division, proteins, organelles, and even RNA are distributed unequally between the two daughter cells, determining their distinct cell fates. The mechanisms orchestrating this process are extremely complex. Dysregulation of asymmetric division can potentially trigger cancer progression. Cancer stem cells, in particular, undergo asymmetric division, leading to intra-tumoral heterogeneity, which contributes to treatment refractoriness. In this review, we delve into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern asymmetric division and explore its relevance to tumorigenesis.
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