Methods in Cancer Stem Cell Biology

This book describes the use of stem cells and cancer stem cell generation in the inflammatory microenvironment (cancer-inducing niche) using induced pluripotent stem cells. It provides step-by-step techniques and manuals for studying stem cell and cancer stem cell generation with different applications in cancer research.  

The development of induced pluripotent stem cells has provided a new approach to studying cancer initiation by producing cancer stem cells without introducing mutations or foreign genes. The book features the research of the authors’ group, which was the first to generate cancer stem cells from stem cells in the presence of inflammatory conditions.  

The 20 chapters of this book cover topics such as generating pluripotent stem cells, converting normal stem cells to cancer stem cells, enriching, isolating and evaluating cancer stem cells. Methods for evaluating the characteristics of cancer stem cells and possible therapies against them are also discussed. 

The book provides easy-to-follow protocols that help researchers in the study of cancer stem cells. Illustrations help readers understand how the method of cancer stem cell generation can be applied as an essential method for assessing the carcinogenic potential of various non-mutagenic compounds. It will be a useful resource for graduate students, researchers, technicians, and physicians working in academic, hospital, and pharmaceutical settings. 

Said M Afify 

Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.  

Division of Biochemistry, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Egypt.  

Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Japan.  

Dr said M. Afify received his PhD in Cancer Biology from Okayama University, Japan in 2019. With the support of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) 2020, he conducted his first postdoctoral research at Okayama University. Currently, he is a cancer biologist at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Through this role, he continues to contribute to cancer research, building upon his previous experience. In order to improve our understanding and treatment of cancer, he works closely with leading experts in the field and conducts cutting-edge research. He works with a dedicated team of researchers at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. With his expertise and passion for science, he hopes to make a significant impact on the fight against cancer and improve patient lives. 

Masaharu Seno 

Professor, Laboratory of Nano-Biotechnology, Division of Biotechnology and Medicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Japan.

Professor Masaharu Seno is a professor emeritus at Okayama University. His PhD was awarded from Osaka University in 1989. He worked as a scientist for Takeda Chemical Industries for 10 years. Since 1992, he has been working at Okayama University. His current research is focusing on the induction of cancer stem cells from normal pluripotent stem cells. His research work was awarded from Kudoh Foundation of Cancer Research in1993 and from Okayama Foundation for Science and Technology in1995. Developing novel cancer stem cell models, Professor Seno is currently investigating the process of carcinogenesis under cancer inducing niches as well as plasticity, metastasis and invasion of cancer stem cells including the development of novel cancer treatments.