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Biology of lung cancer: genetic mutation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and cancer stem cells

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Abstract

At present, most cases of unresectable cancer cannot be cured. Genetic mutations, EMT, and cancer stem cells are three major issues linked to poor prognosis in such cases, all connected by inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity. Issues on inter-/intra-tumor heterogeneity of genetic mutation could be resolved with recent and future technologies of deep sequencers, whereas, regarding such issues as the “same genome, different epigenome/phenotype”, we expect to solve many of these problems in the future through further research in stem cell biology. We herein review and discuss the three major issues in the biology of cancers, especially from the standpoint of stem cell biology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Advanced Medical Science, Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan

    Takashi Aoi

  2. Department of iPS cell Applications, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan

    Takashi Aoi

  3. Center for Human Resource Development for Regenerative Medicine, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan

    Takashi Aoi

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  1. Takashi Aoi
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Correspondence to Takashi Aoi.

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Aoi, T. Biology of lung cancer: genetic mutation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and cancer stem cells. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 64, 517–523 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-016-0682-8

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