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The Cancer Stem Cell Hypothesis

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Stem Cells and Cancer

Part of the book series: Cancer Drug Discovery and Development ((CDD&D))

Abstract

The “cancer stem cell” hypothesis is receiving increasing interest and has become the object of considerable debate among cancer biologists and clinicians. This ongoing debate is focusing attention on the very definition of stemness and its significance in the context of a malignancy. From a therapeutic standpoint, the cancer stem cell hypothesis emphasizes the cellular heterogeneity in cancers, and the need to specifically target small cell populations that resemble tissue stem cells and are phenotypically different from the majority of cancer cells. Regardless of their origin, these cells divide slowly, have the ability to undergo asymmetric cell division and are highly resistant to conventional chemotherapeutics. These characteristics make them prime suspects as potential causes of disease recurrence and metastasis, which are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in oncology. This chapter provides an introduction to the cancer stem cell hypothesis, briefly summarizes the evidence supporting this theory and the aspects that remain controversial. Finally, we present a brief discussion of the possible therapeutic significance of cancer stem cells and the current efforts to target developmental pathways on which these cells depend.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Breast Cancer Research Program, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center-Room 236, Loyola University Chicago, 60153, Maywood, IL

    Kimberly E. Foreman, Paola Rizzo, Clodia Osipo & Lucio Miele

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  1. Kimberly E. Foreman
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  2. Paola Rizzo
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  4. Lucio Miele
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Correspondence to Lucio Miele .

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    © 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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    Foreman, K.E., Rizzo, P., Osipo, C., Miele, L. (2009). The Cancer Stem Cell Hypothesis. In: Teicher, B., Bagley, R. (eds) Stem Cells and Cancer. Cancer Drug Discovery and Development. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-933-8_1

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